Crisis lines and resources: If your life or someone else’s is in imminent danger, call 911. If you are in crisis and need immediate help, or if you need to…
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg Isabel Kaplan Rosh Hashana 2020 When I was asked last night to prepare some thoughts about the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg I immediately concluded that I…
Idenitities Lina M. Yom Kippur 2019 All people embody multiple identities. Our identifiers describe our relationships, the way we relate to the people and places around us. Among many…
Outside and Inside Ernie Rubinstein Rosh Hashanah, September 30, 2019 On Feb. 10, 2008, at the age of 56, I learned something new about myself. I learned I had a…
Facing the Unexpected Alyson Silverman-Caruso Yom Kippur 2018 Hi, I’m Alyson Silverman-Caruso. My family has been a member of City Congregation for three years, I have two sons in…
On Transition Sandy Farber Rosh Hashana 2018 L’shanah tovah. My name is Sandy Farber, and I’m a long-time member of the congregation, having joined in the 1990s. One of…
Self-Reflection Essay Matt Rand (Originally given on the occasion of his conversion, February 15, 2017) Ten years ago if someone had told me I’d become Jewish, I definitely wouldn’t…
Forgiveness Laura Finfer Families are complicated. Mine is especially so. My mom passed away in May; she had borderline personality disorder. It is a condition that made her moods unstable,…
Trauma Transformed Mike Otterman Yom Kippur 2016 I struggled with this essay more than I thought I would. I understood the brief that Rabbi Peter gave me — or…
Yom Kippur 2016 Rabbi Peter Schweitzer Shanah Tovah, Happy New Year, Gut Yontiff. As I have done regularly to open our High Holidays services, I’d like to share a…