I am struggling with the increase of hate speech in world. I know the power of speech and how words can build up and how words can destroy. I understand the freedoms and rights we have as Americans, but I also know the obligations we have as Jews.
 

I remember years ago when one of my Rabbinic mentors said that music can touch the heart more so than the spoken word. I can think of countless times in my life when I know that to be true.

Years ago, I worked in the national office of a Jewish youth organization overseeing a summer travel program and many other educational endeavors. One program brought together over 1,000 Jewish teens in a major city for a week over Winter break.

I received a very nice message yesterday morning from a thoughtful member of the congregation. In light of the terrible cold, she wanted to know if we had a way of checking in on members of our congregation who may have specific challenges because of the weather.

This weekend a group of students and teachers of our Hebrew High School program are in New Orleans, LA as part of our Siyyum Tichon Community Service Trip.

My daughter Dena is in twelfth grade at the Golda Och Academy, the Jewish Day School in West Orange NJ. This past week, she and her classmates completed all of the school work for the year and departed for a three month experience in Israel.

There is a well-known verse found in the Book of Deuteronomy that has been on my mind a great deal this week. Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof - Justice, Justice shall you pursue.

I am very concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism in our country including all of the major news stories related to anti-Semitic statements made by public officials.

Our hearts go out today to our Muslim friends who are experiencing tragedy once again with the attack on the mosque in New Zealand. Nearly 50 people have lost their lives and so many people are feeling the emotional pain and devastation of the attack.

On Saturday night, I am heading to Washington DC to be a part of the AIPAC National Policy Conference as I do every year, but this year things feel different.

This past week, I attended the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington DC. It was a powerful time to be in Washington, especially in light of some major news stories.

I had a teacher who once said among the most important qualities every Jew needs to do is be a story teller. Think about how many of our traditions are about telling stories - Jewish history, the weekly Torah Reading, holiday observances and so much more.

It is graduation season. If you have a graduate in your family or if you plan to attend a graduation in the coming days, I wish you Mazal Tov. Graduations are significant moments in the lives of both the graduate and the members of the family.

I know that it is a holiday weekend and that many people will be away. However, if you are in town this Shabbat, I encourage you to join us on Shabbat morning.

Every year when I am invited to speak at our Multi Faith Thanksgiving Community Service, I search for a new reading or prayer related to gratitude and appreciation. Over the years, I have found many including some that go back to Biblical times.

The other day, I attended an event celebrating the accomplishments of a local Jewish Day School. It is the school my children attend, the Golda Och Academy in West Orange NJ.

I sat with someone this week to talk about some personal issues she is facing. I did my best to be listen and be supportive. She was questioning God and wanted to know if God listens to our personal prayers.

My mind has been on kids this week. It is the end of the school year and the beginning of the camp season so it is a season that gets us to think about children and what is best for them.

In a recent study group, someone asked me about my favorite part of the Rosh HaShanah service and I was quick to answer the Torah Reading for the Second Day because it is perhaps the most intriguing story in our entire Torah.

Growing up in in Southern New Jersey, my family was active in our small synagogue. I have many vivid memories of powerful experiences in that congregation on Shabbat and holidays and it was during those moments that I first began to think about being a Rabbi.

A young man was about to graduate from college. In his affluent neighborhood, it was a custom for graduates to receive a new car as a gift from their parents.

Beginning tonight we are going to all be part of an incredible phenomenon. We are about to recreate an experience that the Jewish people have followed in some form for over four thousand years.

One of my main goals for this year is to work more closely with our teens as we work to create our New Hebrew High School Program - #SULAM. I know from personal experience how critical the teen years are to someone's Jewish development and I want to do all that I can to help our teens continue to feel connected to TJC.

On Yom Kippur I shared a personal story with the congregation about my friend Seth who recently passed away. Until he died, I was not aware that he suffered from depression and mental illness.

The Jewish People have many important rituals related to the end of life; prayers that we say, candles that we light and readings that we share. To me, one of the most powerful is the Yahrtzeit - a ritual around the anniversary of the passing of a loved one and a ritual that can be quite powerful to observe, especially on the first anniversary.

How many of us remember that when we were younger and people were uncomfortable talking about something they needed to say, they would whisper the difficult word.

Earlier this week, I went to visit my parents. They are doing well and still in New Jersey, getting ready to head to Florida after Thanksgiving. Thank God, my parents and healthy and doing a lot with their time.

One of the things I am most excited about this year is my ninth grade Hebrew High School class. Our group is focusing on learning other religious traditions through a Jewish lens and we have already encountered some great people.

When I was a child, I remember Thanksgiving being a one day holiday - maybe two if you count that I did not have to go to school on Friday also. Now it seems that Thanksgiving has become a week-long celebration that begins earlier.

If we can think back over the 70 years of TJC history, we have so much to be proud of. In my time at TJC, I have heard many stories about the early years and the challenges our founders faced as they created a synagogue in Princeton when the Jewish population was much smaller than it is today.

I know from my conversations this week, that many people have concerns about the statements from President Trump about the Jewish people.