I’m posting here, for the first time online, my rabbinic ordination thesis, “Meditative and Contemplative Practices of Certain Hasidic Masters.” The title is self-explanatory and it includes a recommendation of acceptance by Dr. Eugene B. Borowitz, who advised me on the thesis and later encouraged me to expand it into a book. (The duties of the congregational rabbinate have so far prevented that from happening.) Note that considerable portions are in Hebrew, but even the English reader should be able to appreciate the content. And have fun with that old time font, manually typed! I hope you enjoy. Let me know if you do.

12/10/11

So what’s the deal with the Evangelical Christian community these days? The answer may be surprising and more  complex than you may have thought.  Read an article by author Marcia Pally published as a NYT Opinion piece on 12/10/11 by clicking here.

It’s welcome news for those who may have thought of that community as being overly narrow and monolithic. Also for those of us who believe in building bridges.

12/9/11

Here’s some must reading for all who believe President Obama is insufficiently pro-Israel.  It comes from today’s issue of Ha’aretz and is by blogger Chemi Shalev. Click here for the article.

See the RDA Blog of May 20 for my thoughts on why supporters of Israel should be happy with President Obama’s major address on the Middle East–and why they shouldn’t. Here also are links to excerpts from two TV interviews <first> and <second> I gave on the subject.

The death of Osama Bin Laden was an event of global significance. Read “Some Jewish Thoughts on Bin Laden’s Demise”, delivered at CBI on our High School Graduation night, May 6, by clicking here.

You can click on the title to read “Hope and Fear in the Middle East,” delivered at CBI on March 11. Or you can click here and listen to or download an audio file of the talk being delivered live.

Here’s a talk on the theme of “Civility in American Public Life,” given at Congregation B’nai Israel on February 4, 2011.  Many people asked for copies.  Click here for yours.

An article on relations with our Muslim neighbors, extrapolated from the lengthier essay below, was recently printed in the Florida Jewish Journal.  Click here to read it.

Have you said to yourself–or someone else–that you wish American and other Muslims would be more vocal in their opposition to terrorism? Then click here for the entry titled “Response to My Friend Rabbi Shalom Lewis.”

And here’s another one for you–the most broadly popular religious group in America today is…?  To find out, you’ll have to click here and see my article on page 2 when you do.

“Religious Knowledge in America”, a talk delivered on October 8, 2010. Click on the link and discover the surprising findings from a recent survey and a new book.

The three-part High Holyday 5771 series on relationships is linked here.  “Our Relationships with One Another” is from Rosh Hashanah and contains both personal and civic perspectives. On Yom Kippur the themes were “Our Relationship with God” and “Our Relationship with Ourselves.” Click on and enjoy!

Sept. 15–new on the RDA Blog–learn about a prominent Muslim moderate critical of militants. From the Wall Street Journal.

A brief post and suggested links on the Gaza Flotilla affair are on the RDA Blog.

How are Jewish and Buddhist teachings similar?  How do they differ?  See a mini-example in the May 12 entry of the RDA Blog.

“Continuing Our Jewish-Muslim Dialogue” was the theme as we hosted our friends from the Anatolia Cultural Center on April 9.  Read the message here.

We recently shared a great time with period music from the 1960′s.  Some “Musings” on that pivotal decade are linked here.

New thoughts on Netanyahu’s handling of the Jerusalem settlement issue on the RDA Blog of March 28.

Health care reform!?  Check out the RDA Blog from March 22.

There’s an entry on the RDA Blog on the current flareup (March 17) in relations between the US and Israel on settlement policy.

Speaking notes from our 26th annual joint service with the members of Boca Raton’s oldest African-American Church, Ebenezer Missionary Baptist. It took place on Martin Luther King weekend and you can click on the link here.

In addition, we held a service of Recovery and Rededication for those in 12 Step Programs at CBI recently and I had a few words to offer.  Click on them here.

Also some thoughts and reflections on the Haitian Earthquake on the RDA Blog.

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Also posted is “Highlights of the Jewish Decade” an end of the year–and end of the decade–review of what we’ve experienced in the last ten years.

What does the number “168″ mean to you?  The RDA Blog entry here explains why it should mean a lot.

You can click here for a short article on Muslim-Jewish relations that I wrote for our December synagogue newsletter.  It was written before the tragedy at Ft. Hood–which may have made it even more important. Hope you appreciate—

You can find additional notes of my recent talks, writings and sermons at this link.

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Relations with the Muslim world have been a pressing issue since September 11, 2001. In the minds of many around the world, the events of that day defined the entire faith of Islam strongly and negatively.

It was never a fair characterization and this was noted from the very first. In the days following the attacks, mass-appeal radio hosts, not usually known as sources of enlightenment, told their listeners that the horror was not committed by everyday Muslim acquaintances—professionals, merchants or taxi drivers. Rather it was the work of a fanatical group within the Islamic world, and a relatively small one at that.

Nevertheless, spectacular events tend to define reality more than rational explanations, however legitimate.  As a result it has not been an easy period for many Muslims, particularly in the United States. Too many Americans have conflated them with terrorists and terrorism. It even reached the point where the word “Muslim” gained use as an epithet.

Muslim-Americans today find themselves facing circumstances not unlike those faced by American Jews when we were new immigrants–not always welcome and often the objects of suspicion.  However, also like us, virtually all of them are here not to foment unrest but to build a better life for themselves and their families. Again, that is not necessarily the public perception. Even before 9/11 they were dealing with ignorance and discrimination. They have redoubled their efforts to gain acceptance in the time since.

Guided by the principles of our Center for Justice, our congregation has been working with Muslim-Americans to welcome those who are here in pursuit of the American dream. Together we have increased understanding, reinforced shared values, volunteered jointly in the larger community, created friendships, and even deepened appreciation for Israel. It has been an effort that has been going on for some five years now, and I can say unequivocally that it has been a blessing for all involved.

As a minority ourselves, Jews always stand to benefit from greater interfaith understanding.  This is particularly true in this instance, as the number of Muslim Americans is likely to surpass the number of Jewish Americans in the near future. Better understanding between the two groups is good for Jews, good for Muslims and good for America.