by Rabbi David Levin | Jan 18, 2018 | General, Teaching
We are far more than animals; our connection to our past and our aspirations and dreams for our future make us in the Divine Image. Thus, as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks insightfully explains Moses’ actions in this week’s Torah portion Bo, we are instructed on the eve of the...
by Rabbi David Levin | Dec 29, 2017 | Blessings, General
This Shabbat we read Parsha Vayechi, closing the Book of Genesis. This coincides with the end of the secular year 2017. The religious and secular realms share something else as well; we immediately move forward into the Book of Exodus and seamlessly, 2018 starts....
by Rabbi David Levin | Dec 27, 2017 | Blessings, Teaching
And He lived- This Parsha marks the final chapter in Jacob’s life and the Book of Genesis. Jacob takes his final moments to wonder if indeed his life was worth living. Was the struggle with God was successful. Will Jacob’s understanding and embrace of the Divine...
by Rabbi David Levin | Dec 24, 2017 | Blessings, Chesbon HaNefesh, Teaching
It’s hard to get where you are going if you don’t know where you are And you can’t know where you are if you don’t know where you’ve been. As aphorisms go, mine admittedly needs some work, but I hope you get the gist of it. We are ourselves like links in a...
by Rabbi David Levin | Dec 15, 2017 | Blessings, General
What was it precisely, this miracle that is part of our lore? Was it the triumph of the Jews over the Greeks? Was it finding the single cruse of pure oil? Was it lighting the menorah even though there was only one day’s supply of oil? Was it that the flame burned for...
by Rabbi David Levin | Dec 12, 2017 | Blessings
As we begin Chanukah this evening, I wanted to share this new song from the Maccabeats. The song is a parody based on Ed Sheeran’s Castle on the Hill. But the lyrics speak to the journey all of us take, the memories and stories created from that journey, our...
by Rabbi David Levin | Nov 21, 2017 | Blessings, General
Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving. This is an interesting year indeed. It seems that each day brings new issues testing us in new and often uncomfortable ways. However, this Thursday is Thanksgiving. Let us take time to celebrate our many blessings. For many...
by Rabbi David Levin | Nov 10, 2017 | Blessings
This weekend is an extraordinary confluence of memories and events that I pray leads to our rededication to the values we cherish as a nation and as Jews. Kristallnacht and Veteran’s Day are times of extraordinary solemn remembrance. The lessons we learn from these...
by Rabbi David Levin | Nov 8, 2017 | Blessings, Chesbon HaNefesh, General, Peer Conversations, Teaching
Pleased and proud to help my friend and colleague Rabbi Richard Address launch Jewish Sacred Aging Radio! For the initiation of this wonderful project, Rabbi Address, Rabbi Simcha Raphael, and I had a lively insightful conversation about questions surrounding the...
