Rabbi Bruce's Reflections on Life

  Dear Friends, As we approach the conclusion of 2022 and begin a new secular year, I wanted to share a thought from my colleague, teacher, and friend, Avi West, of blessed memory. During Chanukah he taught me about the importance of lighting two Chanukah menorahs.  There is a Talmudic argument between Rabbis Hillel and Shammai about the lighting of the candles.  Rabbi HIllel taught that one should light one candle the first night and add one candle each night up until the eighth night when one lights all eight candles.  Rabbi Hillel believed that the miracle of the oil burning  was greatest on the final night so we should light all eight candles that night.  When it comes to matters of bringing holiness to our world we should always increase and not decrease what we do. Rabbi Shammai taught that we should light all eight candles the first night and decrease to one candle the last night since the oil was the strongest the first night and the weakest the last night.  Most of us follow t

  Dear Friends, We recently saw a performance of  "Awakening" in Las Vegas.  In addition to it being overwhelming due to all the special effects, the message of the show is a wonderful way to think about Chanukah. (Please read a review of the show). Light and dark are created and they battle over magic which may be understood as love and/or harmony.  As we prepare to celebrate Chanukah next week, I believe that our Jewish tradition can be magical. It can inspire light over darkness, the few over the many, the weak over the strong, and that good can triumph over evil. I hope that as we remember the spirit of Judah Macabee, we will "awaken" once again to pursue magical values of tikkun olam (repairing the world), gemilut chasidim (deeds of kindness), and tzedakah (righteousness). In a world crying out for love and caring we can make a magical difference in the lives of others when we reach out and care for those in need.  This Holiday season I hope we will celebrate a

  Dear Friends, Although it is a bit early to talk about Chanukah, I wanted to share the following message with you.   I was so moved by the Iranian soccer team's solidarity with the women in Iran who are seeking basic human rights when they didn't  sing their National Anthem. It was a moment that I hope will resonate in history as an Iranian Chanukah event that will lead to more freedom for all who live in Iran.  We know that the members of the team and those who are protesting are risking their lives. I wonder how Judah Macabee felt when he decided that enough was enough and that Judaism and freedom were worth fighting for.   It was risky then and it is risky now.  Please search out ways in which you can join the fight for freedom so that this year our Chanukah will be remembered as a time when we did something to fulfill the words of the Peter, Paul, and Mary song which are written below. Let us do what we can to not let the light go out by fighting persecution, hatred, and