Congregation Beth Mordecai
Congregation Beth Mordecai
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
August 12, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
Many of you have heard the tragic news of the untimely death of Robin Williams, a brilliant actor and comedian whose performances have entertained millions of people. I have especially fond memories from my youth of some of his most memorable performances, including Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, and Hook. He's one of the first performers I remember truly admiring. Yet his untimely and all-too-early death remind us that just because someone may be able to show great enthusiasm and joy on screen doesn't mean that it inherently translates to how someone may feel on the inside.
There is a teaching in the Book of D'varim (Deuteronomy) that speaks to me in this moment:
(הנסתרות לה' אלקינו והנגלות לנו ולבנינו עד[...]
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : death Deuteronomy 29:28 God hidden hope rabbi rabbi's journal revealed Robin Williams
December 20, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
Yesterday, I had the honor of officiating at the funeral for Mike Seidel z"l, a past President of Beth Mordecai. It's moments like these that remind me how grateful I am to be your rabbi -- to learn about Mike's humility, perseverance, and love of service (especially as President of Beth Mordecai), and to share some of those stories with his family in the hope that by couching them in Jewish language these stories and anecdotes from Mike's life will help them cope with his passing. I am also grateful for our Jewish tradition that is full of timeless wisdom on how to treat a person on the last stage of life's journey and how to ease family members[...]
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : death funeral mike seidel names rabbi rabbi's journal shabbat message
November 15, 2012 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh, Psalm 31:13 נשכחתי כמת מלב הייתי ככלי אבד I am put out of mind like the dead; I am like an object given up for lost The sad news of the sudden passing of Cantor David Lavine z"l is a reminder to me of the gift and tenuousness of life. Over the past couple of months, I spent a good time with Cantor Lavine preparing for the holidays, and though our relationship was a professional one, he was a big part of my life for my first few months at Beth Mordecai. I would call him often, to plan our meetings in New York, discuss innovative ideas for services (we used some of his brainstorms in our service), and to practice the[...]
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : cantor david lavine cantor david levine death memories rabbi rabbi's journal relationships Reverend Anne-Marie Jeffery St. Peter's Episcopal Church thanksgiving