Off the Pulpit: Echoes

October 09, 2020

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

Before my freshman year of college, the synagogue in which I was raised moved to a new location. I visited the old synagogue, now abandoned, and when asked in freshman English to write about a personal experience...

Off the Pulpit: Loving Jews

October 02, 2020

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

On Rosh Hashana I spoke about Ahavath Yisrael, loving the Jewish people, and was told by a friend that some young people he spoke to found it elitist and distasteful. Permit me three responses:

1 —...

Off the Pulpit: A Reflection and a Prayer

September 25, 2020

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

Each year we wonder, “who will live and who will die?” We know that the question is genuine, but this year it feels more urgent than it has in my lifetime.

By most measures human life...

Off the Pulpit: Bring Them Home

September 18, 2020

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

For five years Hamas has kept the bodies of two soldiers, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul. For six years, an Israeli citizen Avraham Mengistu, has been held by Hamas.

One of the byproducts...

Person in the Parsha: Rosh Hashanah

September 11, 2020

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“WILLING TO CHANGE”

Sometimes even the corniest of old jokes has a profound lesson to teach us.

“How many psychologists does it take to change...

Off the Pulpit: Quiet?

September 11, 2020

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

“Live out loud, you are unique, celebrate who you are.” Our world is awash in such slogans. Self-esteem is prized, self-assertion applauded and spiking the football, rather than arrogance, is considered justifiable pride.

There is another...

Person in the Parsha: Nitzavim-Vayelech

September 04, 2020

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“REFLECTIONS UPON THE YEAR’S END”

It is the last Sabbath of this year, and we will shortly usher in the New Year.

Off the Pulpit: Three Short Shofar Lessons

September 04, 2020

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

The one who blows the shofar produces the sound from within his or her body. The force of the shofar is breath, in Hebrew, ruah – spirit. In order to create the sound properly one must bring...

Person in the Parsha: Ki Tavo

August 28, 2020

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINRE

“TO EACH HIS LANGUAGE” 

There was a time when the literary treasures of the Jewish people were accessible only to those with a reading knowledge of...

Off the Pulpit: How Life Imitates Chess

August 28, 2020

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE

While the pandemic has been disastrous for many activities, it has been a boon for chess. Online tournaments have exploded, thanks largely to the world champion Magnus Carlsen. I became a chess player at 14, and...