Healing Prayers

By Rabbi William Kuhn

One of the great mysteries of life is why we become ill.  People can be living a perfectly normal happy life, when all of a sudden they fall sick, seemingly out of the blue.  We often wonder if there is anything Judaism can do to make us well, to bring us healing.  Perhaps there is no magic cure Judaism can offer, but our tradition teaches us that there are a number of ways to find comfort in our sacred texts.

I would like to recommend the Book of Psalms in our Bible to anyone who is ill and in search of comfort, insight or healing.  Anyone who is down or grieving or sick at heart could find the writer of the Psalms understands you and offers solace.  It has been said that the Psalms are a travelling companion for those in pain.

Reform Movement’s New President

Rabbi Rick Jacobs’ remarks at URJ’s Biennial Convention (12/18/11): Click for Rabbi Jacobs video.

by Rabbi Bill Kuhn

The Union for Reform Judaism’s (URJ) Biennial Convention took place in Washington, DC  December 14-18,  2011 with a record attendance of over 5,000 Reform Jews from around North America. Founded in 1873 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, (originally named the Union of American Hebrew Congregations), the URJ is the umbrella organization of all of the congregations in the Reform Movement.  Rodeph Shalom has been a member of the URJ since the very early days, and has been a proud leader of the Reform Movement ever since.

RS Teens in Israel Now!

We are so proud of our teenagers who are traveling in Israel right now and we are grateful to Rabbi Eli Freedman and Laurel Klein for leading the trip!  Keep up with their adventures: rsisraeltrip.wordpress.com

Cantorial Search Update

Our cantorial search committee has been hard at work!  In our initial meeting we began by thinking about the characteristics that our congregation is looking for in an ideal candidate:

We need a wonderful cantor who can provide visionary leadership in all aspects of the life of our congregation. We are looking for someone to be involved in the planning, intentionality and spiritual leadership of our prayer services,  as well as the visioning and strategic planning of the entire congregation.

We seek a cantor who will be a musical and spiritual leader who is deeply and holistically connected with the life of our community in every area of congregational life, including teaching adults and children and B’nai Mitzvah, conducting life-cycle events, pastoral counseling and participating in social action efforts.

We hope to find someone who is visionary, personable, caring and compassionate in working with congregants and in teamwork with fellow clergy.

Finally, our ideal cantor is someone who is highly skilled, with a voice strong enough to fill our Sanctuary yet humble enough to help facilitate participatory song and worship, so that congregants will feel a part of their own prayer experience.

Profound Moments: Dena Herrin

By Dena Herrin, RS President

Before I tell you about a profound moment that I had, let me give you some context.  As some of you know, my connections to Judaism for most of my life were weak at best.  I left Hebrew school, which I hated, at 10 years old and barely stepped in a synagogue for the next 25 years.  I occasionally went with my parents for the High Holy Days, but really didn’t understand or engage in the service.  The word and concept of God made me very uncomfortable, still does.  Our Rosh Hashanah dinners, Yom Kippur breakfasts and Passover Seders were occasions I enjoyed as family gatherings, and to a much lesser extent, cultural events.  For me, there really was no spirituality or deep religious context to these holidays.  I joined Rodeph Shalom in an effort to find some Jewish connection for my children.  We are an interfaith family and my Jewish foundations were simply too shallow to provide relevant content and meaning for my family.  I share this background because the moment that I want to tell you about occurred in the sanctuary here, at Rodeph Shalom, at a time when my connections to Judaism and to the synagogue were very superficial.

Rabbi Kuhn Kol Nidre Sermon

By Rabbi Bill Kuhn, sermon delivered Kol Nidre evening 2011

A man was walking along, minding his own business, doing his job on a day just like any other ordinary day.  When out of the corner of his eye, he saw a fire.  He didn’t really think anything of it, as he sees little fires all the time in his line of work.  But this fire was different, it would not go out.  Eventually he turned and noticed this extraordinary fire, and his life was changed forever.  For the longest time, Moses stared at the bush that was burning unconsumed in the desert.  And when God saw that he had turned and noticed, God called out to him, “Moses, Moses.”  And Moses answered, “Hineini,”  “I am here.”  [Ex. 3:1-4].

Rabbi Kuhn Rosh Hashanah morning sermon

By Rabbi Bill Kuhn, sermon delivered Rosh Hashanah morning 2011

A couple of months ago, I met with a small group of some of the top Jewish leaders Philadelphia, and one of them said that he really wondered if the Jewish community in America would exist in another generation.  I have thought a lot about that statement, and I must agree that there are threats to the very existence of our Jewish community, but actually, the threat to our existence comes from the fact that conditions have never been better for Jews in America.  We are totally accepted into American society as never before.

I’m no Thomas Friedman: The State of Israel vs. The Land of Israel

By Rabbi Eli Freedman, sermon delivered Yom Kippur Morning 2011

I’m not Thomas Friedman.  Yes, we have the same last name, although he spells it wrong, but that is the end of the similarities.  Why do I say this?  Because Pulitzer Prize winning, New York Times “Foreign Affairs” Correspondent Thomas Friedman can tell you about the political situation in Israel better than I ever could.  So, what can I tell you about Israel that Thomas Friedman can’t?

Tennessee: The Volunteer State

By Rabbi Eli Freedman, sermon delivered erev Rosh Hashanah evening 2011

As many of you know, this summer I got married.  Laurel and I decided to take a road-trip to and from our wedding in Texas.  While leaving Asheville, NC and heading into the birthplace of Rabbi Bill Kuhn, I saw a large welcome sign.  On that sign it read, “Tennessee: The Volunteer State.”  I usually do not place much stock in state mottos.  I come from the Bay State and now live in the Keystone state, neither of which names deeply resonates with me, however, for some reason I was struck by Tennessee: The Volunteer State.  I assume it is because, as a synagogue community, we have been thinking a lot about what it means to be a part of congregation in recent months.

Limbs of a Whole: Caring Community

By Rabbi Jill Maderer, sermon delivered Yom Kippur Morning 2011

A boat filled with travelers sails in the ocean, when suddenly one passenger begins to drill a hole in the floor.  His fellow passengers plead with him to stop, but the man says, “Mind your own business.  This is my seat, and I can do whatever I want to the floor under it.  Am I telling you what to do?  No.  So why don’t you leave me alone?”