Rabbi Gelman's Blog

For some this may be a challenging Thanksgiving. Without the large family gatherings and with an altered national  mood due to the pandemic, it may be hard for some people to get to a state of gratitude.  

I would like to repackage a wonderful spiritual practice regarding prayer to help in this area.

The Talmud (Berachot 32a) states: Rabbi Simlai taught: One should always set forth...Read more...

In memory of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks.

Have you ever asked yourself what it means to live an outstanding or uncommon life?

Many of us have role models who we look to for inspiration. We read biographies of great people that provide insights into their life and motivate us to emulate them as best we can.

While not a full biography, this week’s parsha offers  us insight into Sarah’s life and...Read more...

Did Avraham invent the idea of the hotel loyalty rewards program?

Strangely, it sounds like he did.  After the episode in Egypt when he almost lost Sara his wife, we are told:

וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְמַסָּעָ֔יו... 

And he went on his journey 

Rashi teaches that 

כְּשֶׁחָזַר מִמִּצְרַיִם לְאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן הָיָה הוֹלֵךְ וְלָן בָּאַכְסַנְיוֹת שֶׁלָּן בָּהֶם בַּהֲלִיכָתוֹ לְמִצְרַיִם, לִמֶּדְךָ דֶּרֶך אֶרֶץ, שֶׁלֹּא יְשַׁנֶּה אָדָם מֵאַכְסַנְיָא שֶׁלּוֹ.Read more...

Are you dreaming differently these days. Recently there have been some articles reporting that the CORONAVIRUS pandemic is altering sleep patterns and  the way we dream.

Rabbi Moshe of Coucy (1200-1260) was not living through a pandemic, but he did have a very strange dream. It happened when he was writing his now famous Sefer MItzvot Gadol (SeMaG) an early example of a Halachik code that discusses each of the...Read more...

I came across these instructions given to non jews in terms of how to extend Yom Kippur greetings to Jewish friends.  “Your first inclination might be to wish your Jewish friends “Happy Yom Kippur!” because, after all, “Happy Hanukkah!” works. But heaven forbid, do not do this. Yom Kippur is a solemn day. Much better you say, “Have an easy fast” or “Good yontif,” or “Good holiday”...Read more...

Let’s talk about dancing. I am sure that dancing is not the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about this time of year and  Yom Kippur…Maybe we can change that.

Presumably we have all been engaged in Teshuvah  -  repentance for the last month. We have prayed, we have recited selichot, we have asked for forgiveness and we have engaged in introspection.  

An article I recently read...Read more...

On Rosh Hashanah we celebrate the creation of the world. We declare it in the Rosh Hashana davening - Hayom Harat Olam - today the world was created. This year, this phrase takes on new meaning.  Looking around, it certainly feels like a new world. There is so much that is unrecognizable.

So much of what we experienced is not what we expected or what we had been prepared for...certainly not what...Read more...

How would you characterize the Jewish people? 

Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg notes that the Jewish people have lots of labels - we are called “The People of the Book” - for example. But he proposes that the most authentic and descriptive title for us should be אומה עליזה - the joyful nation or the  happy nation. 
Whether we are a happy nation, or are supposed to be a happy nation, Rabbi...Read more...

 וְלֹֽא־תָקִ֥ים לְךָ֖ מַצֵּבָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׂנֵ֖א יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

Do not erect a stone pillar; for such the LORD your God detests.

Why does God hate a מַצֵּבָה - a stone pillar?

A number of commentators on the Torah explain this by comparing the usage and physical structure of a...Read more...

As Bnei Yisrael are about to enter the Land of Israel, Moshe presents a biting critique of their spiritual state. 

שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אַתָּ֨ה עֹבֵ֤ר הַיּוֹם֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן לָבֹא֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת גּוֹיִ֔ם גְּדֹלִ֥ים וַעֲצֻמִ֖ים מִמֶּ֑ךָּ עָרִ֛ים גְּדֹלֹ֥ת...Read more...

What’s Next?  

Made famous by President Jedd Bartlet, the fictional President of the West Wing, this quip is a good measure of how to view this period of time; the nine day and Tisha B’Av.

What does it mean to mourn? 

Let’s answer this question by comparing two different aspects of the Halacht of Mourning.

In general, when it comes to Halacha (Jewish Law) we teach our children how to observe...Read more...

This week, I had an interesting conversation with some colleagues on a question that seems to be on the minds of many people. I have been asked the same question by congregants. 

Basically, the question goes like this. How can Jews support efforts to bring justice to communities of color even as some members of that community have expressed anti-semetic and anti-Israel views? This question took on greater...Read more...

This week’s Dvar Torah is sponsored by Sheila and Louis Train in memory of their daughter,  Carolynne Joy Guttman z ‘l.

As Bilam was on his way to attempt to curse the Jewish people, an angel God appeares and impedes the path of the donkey Bilam was riding on. On three different occasions Bilam strikes the donkey. Finally, a miracle occurs and the donkey speaks to Bilam, saying:

Read more...

I write these remarks today on  Juneteenth - an important and historic day in Texas and in the shadow of the tragic events that have occurred recently in the United States. 

We are at a critical moment here in the United States. Many people are hoping that terribly tragic events in the last few weeks will lead to a more equitable and safe society for all. I pray that that is true. 

At moments...Read more...

This Yizkor, the second Yizkor that we find ourselves not able to be in shul, may be 

particularly difficult for people. 

Yizkor is made more meaningful by sharing it with community members. We are comforted by the presence and embrace of our friends and neighbors.

Without the emotional setting of the shul, the chanting of the Chazan and the faint sounds of sobbing, the power of...Read more...