Rabbi Bruce's Reflections on Life

  Dear Friends, Do you remember when one would use the phrase that something was a scream and it was meant to be positive? I was leading a workshop on dealing with antisemitism and one of the students asked about how they could deal with the scream in their hearts.  They were referring to the anxiety that they and perhaps all of us feel in the world in which we are living. As we read about the 10 Plagues, we are reminded of our ancestors who lived in the midst of a world where they were enslaved not only to bondage but to the scream of oppression.  We are plagued by many challenges but must not succumb to depression and under involvement or indifference.  We must work for change and liberate our world from hopelessness and inspire those with whom we have contact to join us in building a brighter future. We respond by telling the story in every generation that we are to view ourselves as if we were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt.  We tell the story at our P...

  Dear Friends, As you will see, Jan. 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day.  We are taught that those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it. ( George Santayana) Irene Weiss' story is very compelling and is a tribute to her courage and the strength of the human spirit. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Bruce Aft International Holocaust Remembrance Day

  Dear Friends, In this week's Torah reading, Moses raises the following question with G-d.    "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? "     And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you.  (Exodus 3:11) I think we often suffer from imposter syndrome and wonder whether we are worthy  of being chosen to provide leadership. As we continue to mark the new year of 2023, I hope that each of us reading this will commit to addressing some cause that is of importance to us.  We are taught in Pirke Avot, the Teachings of Our Sages 2:16: "He [ Rabbi Tarfon]  used to say: It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it." (Sefaria translation) I hope that we all realize that when we pursue something meaningful that the spirit of the Divine may be motivating us to make a difference.  We are not alone in our hopes for a better...

 Dear Friends, Today it is personal for me. I realized the power of ritual to make a difference in my life. We have been blessed to take the post retirement trip that my wife and I had been planning and recently returned from Hawaii.  The trip had been postponed because of covid. As we stood on Waikiki Beach watching the sunset (see picture below),  I realized that I could now mark a separation between being a full time congregational rabbi to the next chapter of our lives.  As I thought about the sunset and watched its beauty as it set over the horizon, I was able to see the holiness in the relationships that I had with so many wonderful people throughout the years.  As I looked out over the horizon I realized that so many horizons were broadened, so many people were inspired, I learned so much, and finally appreciated the beauty and honor of having served. On the trip, we were blessed to see a beautiful rainbow that made a complete arch and yeah...

  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...

  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 ...

  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 pers...