Recent Sermons
Worth Their Weight In Gold? – A Weekly Letter from Rabbi Davis – January 18, 2019
Shalom Chaverim My favorite place in Israel is Jerusalem’s farmer’s market, Machaneh Yehudah. On my recent trip, I enjoyed strolling past the bustling stalls, taking in smells of fresh pita and baked goods, the site of fresh produce and the taste of chalva being sampled in the isles. Unfortunately, I was so caught up in the experience that I didn’t pay attention to my wallet....
read moreA Treasure Beneath Your Feet – A Weekly Letter From Rabbi Davis – January 11, 2019
Shalom Chaverim, On our recent trip to Israel, we had a few days of rain. Israel needs the rain, so we couldn’t be too upset that it forced us to alter some of our plans. What for us was a minor inconvenience, was a blessing to farmers… and archaeologists! While we were in Israel, a woman was out taking a walk and stumbled over two...
read moreZionism’s Infinite Ideal
Zionism’s Infinite Ideal Vayera 28 Tevet 5779 | January 5, 2018 Rabbi Alexander Davis History. Family. Connection. Conflict. I added Tarbut, culture. As we went around the circle, each person shared one word that for them captured the meaning of Israel. It was the opening night of our family tour to Israel. 39 of us traveled to the Holy Land, some for the first time...
read moreMy Undercover Tour of Hevron – A Weekly Letter From Rabbi Davis – January 4, 2019
Shalom Chaverim, I just returned from two weeks in Israel and over the coming weeks would like to share some reflections on my experiences. One of the most interesting and intense experiences was a dual narrative tour of Hevron in which I heard the perspective of both Jewish settlers and local Palestinians. The all-day tour was run by a Jerusalem hostel and attracted mostly people...
read moreLost In Translation
Lost In Translation Vayigash 7 Tevet 5779 | December 15, 2018 Rabbi Alexander Davis At an event this week, I made my way over to the snack table when someone I didn’t know came up to me and said, “So rabbi, what happens after you die?” With a mouth full of pita chips and humus I said, “I’ll let you know when I get there.”...
read moreBringing God to Work – A Weekly Letter From Rabbi Alexander Davis – December 14, 2018
Shalom Chaverim, Recently, I was visiting a patient at Fairview University Hospital. Walking to the main entrance, I looked up at a new wing of the hospital under construction and was immediately struck by what I saw. Spray painted on one of the beams was a simple message of hope and strength from the metal workers: “Get well soon.” What a lovely gesture. Clearly the...
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