I do not cry often. This week, I found myself suddenly overcome by all the emotions of everything I have experienced since October 7th and the tears streamed down my cheeks. While I was attending the CCAR conference a few days ago (the Reform rabbis conference), I was sitting in a small group session and […]
Author Archive | Jill Weinthal
Rabbi’s Corner: Why This International Women’s Day is Especially Significant
Today we observe “International Women’s Day (IWD).” International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8th as a focal point in the women’s rights movement. IWD gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, the empowerment of women, and violence and abuse against women. It is a day to celebrate the achievements of […]
No Tolerance for Intolerance, Hate, and Antisemitism
A few weeks ago, I led an interactive discussion with our Senior School students on the meaning of the word “tolerance.” The students defined “tolerance” as: • Acceptance • Understanding • To allow or support something • To be respectful of differences. I was impressed by their insight and depth of understanding. We shared examples […]
Rabbi’s Corner: Stones of Remembrance, Stones of Meaning
My niece Katie and I performed an act of chesed, lovingkindness, for my late mother this week: we visited her grave in Florida and lovingly cleaned all of the green algae, moss, and shmutz (dirt) that had accumulated on her headstone in the humid Tampa air over the past five years. It took a […]
Rabbi’s Corner: Celebrating the Gifts of Our Hands, Hearts, and Spirits
One year ago, Temple Beth Sholom hosted a wonderful artist/scholar-in-residence, Daniel Abramson, for the weekend. One of our goals was to strengthen the sense of community bonds through the creation of a community tallit. If you recall, this was an intergenerational large-scale, painting on silk art project that took all weekend. (We will host […]
Rabbi’s Corner: Proud and Jewish – Especially in Difficult Times
My heart breaks for Israel, the world, our country, our town, and especially our children. It seems as if our world is overflowing with violence, hatred, and pain. Often, these seem distant from us and we can almost turn aside. However, the pain is right here in our own backyard and we cannot, we should […]
Rabbi’s Corner: Moses and Jethro as Models of Leadership Heading into the Primary Elections
“Vote-by-mail” for the presidential primary elections begins this coming Monday, February 5th, 2024. Where did the last four years go?! Like all registered voters in Orange County, I recently received my Voter Information Guide in the mail. We are so fortunate to live in a country where we have the freedom, privilege, and the right […]
Rabbi’s Corner: Celebrating the Legacy of the Women in Our Lives
My mother was a nurse by vocation and a committed Jewish volunteer by avocation. She used her special gifts to nurture the gifts in others and she modeled by example the notion of “Sisterhood.” Tonight, our bima will be graced by many special women as they lead our Erev Shabbat service and as we celebrate the wonderful women […]
Rabbi’s Corner: Who is Spike Kraus, How Did He Get His Nickname (and Why Does it Matter to TBS?)
The Psalmist said: “Shiru l’Adonai shir chadash – sing a new song unto God.” (Psalm 96:1) This evening at our Kabbalat Shabbat service, we will be singing three new songs by Jacob ‘Spike’ Kraus. My connection with Spike began before he was born: his father, Rabbi Jonathan Kraus was one of my classmates at Hebrew […]
Rabbi’s Corner: Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere – Remembering MLK, Jr
This weekend we remember and commemorate the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: civil rights leader, social justice activist, pastor, preacher, husband, father, scholar, orator, dreamer. This week as well, we delve more deeply into the book of Exodus as we read the second portion from this book, Parshat Ve’eira. The book of Exodus relates […]