Rabbi's Blog

At the first Passover, we marked our doorposts with the blood of a sacrificial lamb to protect us from the Angel of Death (Exodus 12:23). Although that was a one-time ritual, doors continue to be a central symbol of the holiday. It is a symbol that seems more relevant than ever in an age when nativism and xenophobia frequently clash with timeless Jewish values of loving and welcoming the stranger, the most often repeated mitzvah in the...Read more...

Judaism's demand for a just and compassionate society is more relevant than ever. Last week, in Parashat Yitro we read the 10 Commandments. In Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18), the Torah shifts from that grand, awe-inspiring revelation at Sinai to the everyday realities of a just...Read more...

I love to teach at the intersection of spirituality and academic thought, so each year I offer a special in-depth seminar series via Zoom for Seaside members, with lots of participation and interaction. No prior knowledge or background (or belief system) is needed, only a sincere willingness to learn about Judaism at...Read more...

On the Friday night before MLK Day, our Kabbalat Shabbat had a theme of...Read more...

Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan:

Two friends meet after they haven’t seen each other in twenty five years.

Harry starts talking about himself and doesn’t stop for a half hour.

His friend David says "Harry, we haven’t spoken in 25 years, you go on and on about yourself...aren’t you going to ask about me?

Harry considers and says "You're...Read more...

Shanah Tovah! You know those lists, the ones that media outlets put out to highlight who is cool? The 100 richest people, 50 most beautiful people, the 50 most influential people, the ones to watch for, the 30 under 30…and the one that rabbis love to hate: America’s 50 Top Most Influential Rabbis.

This Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I’d like to share a countercultural “top of the charts” enumeration,...Read more...

     Join me for a Zoom talk from Israel!

Is Israel in Danger? with Journalist Mark Lavie

Sunday, September 8, 2024 

7:00 PM - Via Zoom - Connect through the Seaside Calendar 

Seaside is sponsoring a Zoom with the Jewish Federation of...Read more...

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Please join me on Tuesday, July 30, 7pm, with a special Zoom program for Seaside members, to connect to your soul by connecting...Read more...

Rabbi's Note:

Sol and Nina Glasner recently spent a month as volunteers on Israeli farms in January-February, helping to save the harvests after terror attacks and war disrupted life. With their permission, I'm sharing most of the letters that Sol sent. He also gave a talk at Seaside about their work, the people they met, and the feeling of life in Israeli during wartime. Due to technical limitations, I could only share a...Read more...

This Purim, we explored the meaning of the book of Esther, and whether or not it "belongs" in the bible. The themes don't seem very religious, but under the surface (under the masks, so to speak), there's a lot of meaning for our lives today. This was the first of my "Rabbi's Seminar: Deep Dive Into the Holidays," series for 2024. Enjoy and Happy Purim! 

Photo: Seaside Hanukkah Party 2022 with Todd Hacker and Alyssa Simon

My Invocation for the Annual Meeting of Seaside Jewish Community, 2023

This month we will light the lights of Hanukkah. Our ancient sages, Hillel and Shammai argued how to light...Read more...

Rabbi Simcha Daniel Burstyn spoke to members of our congregation via zoom this Sunday. Here's a recording of his talk, which starts a few minutes in ( as explained in the YouTube caption). I really appreciate that Rabbi Simcha Daniel took time in these difficult days to meet with us and update us on what life is like in Israel right now as well as how he his hopes alive as a longtime activist for human rights and peace. Rabbi...Read more...

Dear Friends,

Some say that October 7, 2023, was the most horrific day in Israel's history, Israel's own 9/11. Many of us are reeling from the news and feeling sad or helpless.

Fifty years and one day after the surprise attack of the Yom Kippur War, Israel was once...Read more...

Tonight, I invite you to ask yourself a question that only you can answer: If not now, when? Let this question reverberate throughout Yom Kippur.

If not now, when? What arises when you ask this question? Could it be the image of a friend with you’ve been meaning to reconnect with or a family member with whom you need to reconcile? Or maybe what springs to mind is a long-dormant creative...Read more...