ARCHIVED
ARTICLES
by Rabbi Samuel Cohon, Rabbi David Freelund
and Marjorie Hochberg, from Temple Times
Bigger Than All of Us
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon -- August 2002
We recently stayed in a place overlooking the spectacular scenery of the
Olympic Range in Washington state. The view was consistently stupendous, but
the great moments occurred when the rim of cloud that sat on the peaks of the
mountains cleared momentarily. Then, rising almost literally from the blue
sea, the gorgeous white crested summits seemed to soar out of banks of soft
clouds, and our spirits would soar. It was enough, by itself, to make you
believe that God had created a magnificent world, and that simply by being
alive you were part of something fantastic.
"Moses is Moses, but business is business"
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon - July 2002
My father and I have an old story we trot out now and then. We say that
when I was studying to be a cantor I asked him "how do you handle the
Temple 's board of directors?" And he answered, "How do I handle
the board of directors? Like this: we have an agreement. I don't come to
their meetings, and they don't go to my services."
Musical
Notes
From the Desk of Marjorie Hochberg - July 2002
One of the acts of gemilut chasidim, acts of loving kindness, that is most
rewarding is bikkur cholim, visiting the sick. This July, Temple Emanu-El
members have a unique opportunity to fulfill this mitzvah, and to help others
in need by volunteering to participate in Tihan's July POZ Cafe.
Shimon Omer
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon - June 2002
Shimon HaTzadik said: "On three things the world stands: on Torah, on
service, and on acts of loving kindness." -- Mishnah (Pirkei) Avot 1:2
Musical
Notes
From the Desk of Marjorie Hochberg - June 2002
The other day, one of my students and I were preparing to read from the
Torah scroll. As I placed the undressed Torah on the Torah table, I remarked
to my student that he would have to find the yad before we began to read.
Why
Us?
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon - May 2002
There is a classic story about a Jewish professor living in Germany during
the early years of the Nazis. He is walking along the street when he is set
upon by brownshirted Nazi brutes. They beat him unmercifully, and finally the
leader of the gang grabs him and shouts "Who is responsible for the
war?"
Marcel
Mooring's
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon - April 2002
Our Sefer Book Group recently discussed Marcel Mooring's fascinating
novel, In Babylon, the story of a Dutch Jewish family and its journey through
history. The protagonist of the narrative is a fairy-tale writer, and in the
course of the book he retells some classic Jewish stories in fresh and
different ways.
Freedom
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon - March 2002
Perhaps you know the story. Ruth is on the phone with her daughter.
"That does it. This is the last Passover together. After fifty two
years, I'm going to divorce your father." "Ma, what are you talking
about? That's terrible." "You can't talk me out of it. I tell you
I'm finished with him!" "Listen, Ma, we'll take the next plane
down. We'll be there by Seder, and we can talk you out of this."
The
Future of Judaism is Here, Now
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon - February 2002
Having recently returned from a series of conventions, two facts about the
American Jewish community have become clear. The first is that the most
dynamic, creative, and fastest-growing part of the Jewish world today is the
liberal synagogue movement. And the second is that we at Temple Emanu-El are
on the cutting edge of that trend.
Sing
to God a New Song...
A Special Month of Creative Music, Prayer and
Innovation
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon - January 2002
How do you communicate with God? What kind of music, prayer, and rituals
help you find holiness in your life? What's the best way for you to exercise
your spiritual energy?
War,
Peace, and Dedication
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon - December 2001
Do you remember that Oscar awards back in 1984 when Sally Field said
""I can 't deny the fact that you like me. Right now, you really
like me!"? It was a great, comic moment of remarkable self-deception and
embarrassment. Ohmigosh, I won, you really like me! Only after she finished
blurting out the words did she find out that, suddenly, people didn't really
like her, and her career as a "serious" movie actress was pretty
much finished. What a disappointment; what a shock.
The
Righteous of All Nations
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon - November 2001
On October 11th, the 30-day anniversary of the September 11th attacks, we
had an extraordinary interfaith clergy service here at Temple Emanu-El. It
was an amazing experience that epitomized much of what religion, at its best,
can mean.
"Therefore,
choose life... uhv, ohause Kedoshim tihyu..."
You Shall Be Holy
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon - October 2001
It is rare in our lives when the line between life and death is so clearly
drawn as it was during the tragic weeks we experienced this September. As we
prepared to greet the new year of 5762 we were all stunned by the vile terror
attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center, badly damaged the Pentagon,
and wiped out four passenger planeloads of ordinary Americans. It seemed like
a bad dream from which we never quite awoke.
"Therefore,
choose life..."
From the Desk of Rabbi Cohon - September 2001
An old friend of mine, a confirmed bachelor in his forties, recently
announced his engagement. When we told our five year old, Boaz, that his
"uncle" was getting married, he looked at us and asked, in honest
amazement, "Why?" The shock was obvious.
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