Recent Sermons
True Security: Chazak, Chazak, V’nitchazek
“True Security: Chazak, Chazak, V’nitchazek” 27 Adar 5777 • Vayakhel-Pekudei • Shabbat Hachodesh • March 25, 2017 Rabbi Alexander Davis What do we do when we finish a book? Talk about it in book group. Return it to the library. Start a new book. As Jews, we do something else: we rise and call out, “chazak chazak v’nitchazek strength, strength, may we be strengthened.”...
read moreSpice and Spirit
“Spice and Spirit” 13 Adar 5777 • Titzaveh • Shabbat Zakhor • March 11, 2017 Rabbi Alexander Davis What’s your favorite smell? Do smells ever remind you of something? A certain place or a time? For me, I love the smell of rosemary. It reminds me of my year at Hebrew University where it grows wild around the campus. And then there is the smell...
read moreHonoring Our “So-Called” Judges
“Honoring Our “So-Called” Judges” 29 Shevat 5777 • Mishpatim • Shabbat Shekalim • February 25, 2017 Rabbi Alexander Davis Once, a Jew living on Park Avenue built a Sukkah on his balcony. Some of his high society neighbors brought him to court claiming that his hut was an eyesore. They said it was having a negative impact on the value of their homes. In court,...
read moreSong as Protest
“Song as Protest” 15 Shevat 5777 • Beshalach • Shabbat Shira • February 11, 2017 Rabbi Alexander Davis and Cantor Audrey Abrams AD: This past week, I was watching a Facebook video of a bunch of people gathered on the streets of New York. And what struck me most was… that they were singing. AA: Well, New York kind of does that to you… Start...
read moreHats Off to MTM
“Hats Off to MTM” 1 Shevat 5777 • Vayera • Rosh Chodesh Shevat • January 28, 2017 Rabbi Alexander Davis On my day first visiting Minneapolis when I flew out to interview here at Beth El, Rabbi Kahn gave me a short tour of the area. We saw Fishman’s and Byerlys and driving around Lake of the Isles, he pointed out the Mary Tyler Moore...
read moreRighteous Rebuke
“Righteous Rebuke” 16 Tevet 5777 • Toldot • January 14, 2017 Rabbi Alexander Davis Shabbat Shalom I feel like I have no right to give this sermon. I feel like I have no right because I have never served in the IDF. I don’t have sons in the IDF. I have never faced a terrorist bent on killing me, my family and my country. So...
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