High Holy Day Sermons 5777/2016
Our High Holy Day Sermons are now available to read online: Erev Rosh Hashana Sermon by Rabbi Dev Noily: “A River Goes Out From Eden” Rosh Hashana Sermon by Rabbi Avi Rose Kol Nidre Sermon by Rabbi David Cooper: “God, the Covenant, and the Inside-Outsider” Yom Kippur Reflection by Scott and Rose Gelfand Yom Kippur […]
Kol Nidre Sermon by Rabbi David Cooper: “God, the Covenant, and the Inside-Outsider”
Ellis Island Story Referenced in Sermon Introduction to Hagar & Ishmael Torah Excerpt (Genesis 21:9-21) A few years ago, I was dropping my son Lev off at college. I helped set up his part of the dorm room and it was time for me to leave. I turned to look at him and I thought, […]
How Was The Values Statement Developed?
by Rabbi David J. Cooper The Kehilla Statement of Values on Israel/ Palestine was passed by the Kehilla Board of Trustees in September. That Board resolution was only the last stage of a long process. It was in the making for several years and has involved many educational gatherings, surveys of the community, open […]
A Note on the Israel/Palestine Values Survey
by Rabbi David J. Cooper Last month we sent out to every member household a survey to determine support for a statement of values on Israel/Palestine. One could indicate where one stood on a spectrum from very much disagreeing to strong agreement (scale of 1 to 5). As of this writing, 141 responses have been received. […]
Mourning the Dream on Tisha B-Av: The Holiday of Lamentations
Saturday, August 13, 6:30pm by Rabbi David J. Cooper & Rabbi Burt Jacobson During the last years, especially during the Netanyahu administration, big steps have been taken that are increasingly making an independent Palestinian state less and less possible. That failure can mean many more years of suffering and an absence of justice for Palestinians. […]
Coming to Your Email: Values Statement Survey on Israel/Palestine
by Rabbi David J. Cooper In a few days, Kehilla members will receive a survey to assess support for the wording of a statement reflecting our synagogue’s values in regard to Israel/Palestine. Standing up for our values is not just words, but an action. And silence too is an action. So I believe that we […]
ALEPH is Not Silent – It is Listening
ALEPH Listening Tour at Kehilla Friday & Saturday April 15 & 16 by Rabbi David J. Cooper The Velveteen Rabbi aka Rachel Barenblat and Rabbi David Markus will be guest service leaders and teachers on the Shabbat of April 15 and 16—and they are not to be missed—but they, along with ALEPH Executive Director Shoshanna Schechter-Shaffin, are coming to […]
Downloadable Kehilla HOME seder
Looking for a good interactive bare-bones haggadah? Kehilla-style? New, improved and FREE! Instructions and suggestions on using the Haggadah The Haggadah in PDF format: http://www.kehillasynagogue.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Home-Haggadah-2013-Heb-Eng.pdf
The Sanctuary and The Journey
by Rabbi David J. Cooper At the Shabbat service on March 12, we are completing the Book of Exodus where a little sacred magic happens. But more on that later. The first parashah (torah segment) in Exodus begins with a list of people who went down to Egypt in Joseph’s time (“These are the names…”). […]
The Turning: God, Jews, and Torah in the 21st Century
by Rabbi David J. Cooper These are some ideas that frame my thoughts as I start co-teaching with Rabbi Burt our course “Radical Judaism for Our Time.” It’s all up for grabs – as the expression goes. The major frameworks of Jewish life for 2000 years are now subject to reevaluation. We are in the […]
