Each Night, Be the Light
The war in Iraq ended last week, after 9 years. In our thoughts are the 4,487 U.S. troops who died, along with 110,125 Iraqi combatants and civilians. We also honor the 32,426 American soldiers who were injured, countless others wounded and so many families whose lives are...
Hunger - here in Baltimore and around the world
Many of our congregants participated in the Friday evening program for Global Hunger Shabbat, where Rabbi Wechsler led a discussion using Jewish texts to illuminate how our tradition views the problem of hunger and our responsibility to work to alleviate it, both as individuals...
Nes Gadol
Our letter was a nun. It was the last letter in Zebulun, in the third verse of the first chapter of Exodus, which begins “These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each coming with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; Issachar, Zebulun...
Aging and Sage-ing
I sometimes tease that my “mid-life crisis” brought me to Baltimore and Chizuk Amuno. I don’t know how you marked the moment, or someday will. (There are many more interesting ways!) The other night, a group of us got together at the synagogue to talk about getting...
Gala Museum Celebration
A very special evening is coming up on Saturday night, January 22 – we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Goldsmith Museum and I would like to see you all there! We have a lot to celebrate, since our museum is one of the most widely recognized synagogue...
Opportunities to serve/Join us this Sunday (Dec. 12)
All of us can find ways to serve others - whether in our local community or by helping those in need elsewhere. Ruth Messinger's words from the Bimah on Shabbat yesterday were inspiring, and her question and answer session after lunch displayed a masterful understanding...
The Light of our Love and Respect
The world is a dark place, at times a darker place than most of us realize or want to acknowledge. The recent and irresponsible “Wiki leaks” posting of classified diplomatic cables reminds me of this. National security is maintained through difficult means, by espionage...
What to do when you have the Holiday Blues
Do you ever have the feeling that you just can't eat more leftovers? Or you just can't believe you're going back to shul for more services (given this 3 day yuntif whammy year - even the most committed question the sleeping in vs the getting up for services again options)...
Albert Niedel
Beginning today this column will feature members of our incomparable professional synagogue choir. Many of you may not be aware just how illustrious and accomplished each member of our choir is. We begin with Albert Niedel. Mr. Albert Moshe Niedel is a Lyric-Dramatic Baritone...
As we prepare to pray for peace for 5771
With the Help and Guidance of HaShem, along with the inspired words of our Rabbis' Shulman and Wechsler; may this coming Rosh Hashanna bring peace in Israel and the world... May the 140th anniversary of our beloved congregation be one of raptured celebration and greater...
