When I first began writing this weekly column 5 1/2 years ago, I had no idea how important it would be to some in the community or how much I would enjoy it. You may not know or remember (as I believe I have previously shared in this column), I wanted to be a rabbi when I was growing up. And…
It is rather strange that this is my first weekly message in over a month. In fact, this is the longest I have gone without communicating with our community since I began writing this weekly message back in April 2020, shortly after the start of the COVID pandemic. I hope your High Holidays …
I have always had a sense of pride in being Jewish. It began as a childhood experience and has continued throughout my life. I love the feeling of knowing that our tradition teaches us a strong sense of morality, provides a structure for the year, and guides us on how to live our lives. Plus…
Shortly after my wife and I got married in 2000, we moved from Washington, DC, to LA so that I could attend grad school at Hebrew Union College and USC and pursue a double master's in Jewish Nonprofit Management and Social Work. While I knew I wanted to work within the Jewish community, I ne…
AB 715 Must Be Passed to Protect Jewish Students from the Rise of Antisemitism in California’s K-12 Schools
Recen…
It may sound shocking, but one of the many aspects I love about my job is that people in our community, as well as those I know outside of our community, feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and perspectives about the Jewish community with me. And in particular, both the rise of antisemit…
This week, like many other parents in our community, my daughter started school. While I am sure most parents are more excited about what lies ahead in this school year than their children, it is a year full of opportunities, possibilities, and a return to a more structured schedule. And to …
I am a Zionist and will not apologize for being one. I believe that Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state. I know that Hamas is a terrorist organization, and I firmly believe that Israel has a right to defend itself.
And… I’m incredibly concerned, annoyed, and frustrated that th…
Over the last several weeks, I’ve participated in a series of different meetings where the situation between Israel and Hamas has come up. These meetings have taken place with local school district staff, elected officials (or their staff), and other stakeholders. In each of these cases, w…
For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed sitting down to watch a good movie - whether on my couch at home or in a movie theater. Over the years, I must have seen hundreds of different movies. And for some reason, the ones that often stick with me tend to have a quote or two that …
If you were to walk into my office, you will see two diplomas hanging on my wall. One is from Hebrew Union College, where I earned a master's degree in Jewish Communal Service (now called Jewish Nonprofit Management), and the other is from USC for my Master's in Social Work. Both degrees hav…
Saturday night, my family and I had a chance to catch Parade at Ahmanson Theater. It was a show I had wanted to see for a long time, particularly due to its subject matter and its timeliness. If you are not aware, the musical takes place in Georgia in the 1910’s and centers around a rape a…
Shortly after the news of the US bombing Iran’s three nuclear sites, I got a call from my oldest daughter asking if I could explain both what led up to this moment and what it all means. I suspected she would call to understand the issue better since it is so complex, rooted with historica…
On Thursday, September 27, 2012, during Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's UN General Assembly address, he showed what was colloquially called the "Bibi Bomb," a diagram that looked more like something from Boris and Natasha. However, its impact as a visual remains with me today. He was tryi…
You may not know this, but on this day in 1692, the first execution following the Salem Witch trials took place. Bridget Bishop was hanged as a result of people accusing her of being a witch. And if I’m not mistaken, it was around this time that the term “witch hunt” entered society’…
