Religious Life

Sukkot: Sheltering America’s Homeless

Sukkot: Sheltering America’s Homeless 13 Tishrei 5779 – September 22, 2018 Rabbi Alexander Davis This past summer, I traveled with my family back to my hometown of Portland, Oregon. I always love visiting Portland. I think of it as one of America’s great cities- the beautiful skyline, parks, food scene, bookstores, vibrant downtown, and more. But Portland has gained another kind of reputation; unfortunately it’s...

New For Sukkot – A Weekly Letter From Rabbi Davis – September 21, 2018

Shalom Chaverim, With Yom Kippur behind us, we turn our attention to Sukkot. Usually, right after I break my fast, I go outside and start building my sukkah. But this year, the timing made that nearly impossible. We go from Yom Kippur to Shabbat to Sukkot in quick succession. So, l had to start building long before Sukkot. This reminds me of a teaching. For...

Perpetually Happy – Rosh Hashanah Day 2 – Rabbi Avi Olitzky

Choose Life! – Yom Kippur 5779 – Rabbi Alexander Davis

Choose Life! Yom Kippur 5779 Rabbi Alexander Davis Rabbi Greenberg was cleaning up the house when he came across a box he didn’t recognize. His wife had told him to leave it alone, to never touch it as it was personal. One day, however, when she was out, his curiosity got the best of him. He opened the box and inside found 3 eggs and...

Our Better Angels – Rosh Hashanah – Rabbi Alexander Davis

Our Better Angels Rosh Hashana 5779 Rabbi Alexander Davis Sometimes, late at night, I check on my boys after they fall asleep.  I pull up their covers, turn off their radio. And then I just stand there and stare. In the dark of their room lit only by a night light, I could just stare for hours. After homework battles are over, after they’ve showered...

Who is the Fool? – Rosh Hashanah 5779 – Rabbi Avi Olitzky

Who is the Fool? Rosh Hashanah 5779 Rabbi Avi Olitzky When we chat with someone, especially when we disagree, we immediately judge them. We think that they’re wrong, they’re biased, they’re stupid. It begs the question: how do we talk to someone (or even with someone) when we think s/he is a fool? Do we ignore them? Do we, or should we, engage them at...