President's Message

Who needs a president? We do. Believe it or not my two year term as Kol Rinah’s president will end this year. It is crucial for us to continue the work of our president and establish the next leader who will take office January 1, 2023. In fact we have had a combined, Brith Sholom, Kneseth Israel, Shaare Zedek, BSKI, and Kol Rinah, 83 presidents! I have served 3 different times. Louis Goodman served as President of Shaare Zedek for 27 years!...Read more...

I have more questions than answers.   We have many reasons these days not to attend synagogue: Fear of COVID, protocols, masks, no kiddush, streaming or Zoom services from other sources, changes in our routine, business, hobbies, sports, TV, internet, etc. What’s your reason? What permanent effects will this have on our lives as Jews?   Our synagogue has continued to function. We continue to have meetings, daily minyan, lifecycle...Read more...

There is an old saying… The third time is a charm. Perhaps in my case it has taken me three times to get it right. And right now, it feels right. According to Jewish law, once something is done three times it is considered a permanent thing. This is called a “chazakah,” a presumption of ownership, presumption of status. Let’s say you decide to take on a new task. If you do it once and succeed — it’s beginner’s luck. A second...Read more...

My recent struggles with pain and back surgery were the toughest challenge of my life. Praying for the strength to cope, to heal and restore became my primary focus. After a successful operation I am on the path to recovery.     Before My Surgery G-d of health and healing, I surrender myself to the physician’s hand, The surgeon’s knife, The nurse’s care, Placing my body in the cradle of others, Just as I place my soul in...Read more...

It’s all about relationships How do we transform the model of twentieth-century Jewish institutions into twenty-first-century relational communities offering meaning and purpose, belonging and blessing? "What really matters is that we care about the people we seek to engage. When we genuinely care about people, we will not only welcome them; we will listen to their stories, we will share ours, and we will join together to build a Jewish...Read more...