Rabbi Bruce's Reflections on Life

 Dear Friends, During Yom Kippur it is no  surprise that this column will be about forgiveness. I am intrigued by the moment in which Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers in the Biblical story  of Joseph (Genesis 37-ff.) After a number of events, Judah, one of his brothers, offers a touching speech to Joseph and  his sincerity finally overwhelms Joseph. He clears the room, cries, and then turns to  his brothers and says, "Ani Yosef" (I am Joseph) and reveals himself to them. After years of reading this section, this year it seems to me that Joseph, who is known  as a dreamer, also becomes a person who wants to be known as one who forgives.  He says that although the brothers meant to hurt him, that G-d wanted the  events to  unfold as they did.  We  remember that Joseph  predicts the famine and saves the world by encouraging the Egyptians to put food into storage for the seven bleak years. Joseph exhibits his fai...

 Dear Friends, As we approach the new year of 5784 on the Jewish calendar I want to share two thoughts with you. First of all, among my favorite lyrics from popular songs are the following words from Rod Stewart's "Reason to Believe." If I gave you time to change my mind I'd find the way just to leave all the past behind Knowing that you lied Straight-faced while I cried Still I look to find a reason to believe I  believe that the High Holiday season gives us an opportunity to change our minds and leave behind some of the past that has burdened us.  Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur give us the time to change our minds.  Whether we do so is up to us. I also believe that his time of year has the potential to encourage us to find a reason to believe.  We are taught that G-d resides where we let G-d in.  I hope that we can leave behind some of the "lies" that we may have been told or even some of them we may have expressed.  I hope we will let hope, renewal, a...

  Dear Friends, One of the best parts about being an adjunct professor is the amount of time that I can take to travel on weekends and over school vacations. One of many highlights of this summer was the opportunity to attend Shabbat (Sabbath) services at Temple Emanuel in Denver.  In his sermon, Rabbi Joe Black discussed the importance of awareness, acknowledgement, and action. I want to discuss these three "As."   Some of us are part of the AAA Motor Club and I want to become part of the AAA Spiritual Club as we prepare for 5784.  Years ago, I gave a sermon where I suggested that as a rabbi I am a GPS, a Guide to Personal Spirituality.  Using the example of the AAA Motor Club, I think that each of us would enjoy our journey through life more  if we put into practice these three As that Rabbi Black suggested. We observe Selichot tonight, a time on the Jewish calendar before the new year when we offer prayers for forgiveness and really begin to ta...

 Dear Friends,  This past week was a Jewish Holiday called Tu B'Av  Please check out the following link from My Jewish Learning. Tu B'Av, the Jewish Day of Love As I think about the meaning of love, I think about the Shema which reminds us to "LIsten Israel, the Lord our G-d, the Lord Alone."  We are then asked to love G-d with all our heart, all our soul, and all our might."  (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). One of the ways in which I look at love is described in the prayer "Listen" which is found below which I initially read in the prayerbook, "LIkrat Shabbat" I believe that among the most important aspects of love is the ability to listen.  At one of our children's weddings I read the following lyrics from the song, "I Talk to the Trees." from the broadway musical, "Paint Your Wagon." (please search for this and watch Clint Eastwood sing it:-)) I talk to the trees But they don't listen to me I talk to the stars But they neve...

  Dear Friends, As we commemorate Tisha B'Av, we remember the tragedies that have occurred on the 9th Day of the Hebrew month of Av. When we were recently in Rome, I was somewhat unnerved by the tour of the Roman Colosseum. As I learned that the Colosseum was built with some materials from the Second Temple and that a number of slaves who built the Temple were Jewish, I began to think more about Jewish suffering. I spoke to a group  at a local retirement home recently and mentioned this.  One of the residents suggested that instead of dwelling on the sadness and tragedy, that we should celebrate that despite persecution, we are still here. I hope that as we think about the modern meaning of Tisha B'Av, we will remember the sadness but will celebrate the joys of our faith, religion, culture, and civilization.  As we begin the process of preparing for Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), let's think about what we can do to alleviate suffering in our world....

 Dear Friends, Last Shabbat I commemorated the 25th and 22nd anniversaries of my parents' deaths. I gave a sermonette at a local congregation where I spoke about the weekly Torah portion (scriptural reading) which was a double portion from the Book of Numbers, "Hukkat" and "Balak." In this portion, "Hukkat", Moses' brother, Aaron dies and the people mourn for 30 days.  Moses' sister Miriam dies and there is no opportunity to mourn. Immediately afterwards as a response to the Israelites' complaining that they did not have enough water, Moses is asked to speak to a rock to provide water for the people (which had been Miriam's responsibility).  Moses, who had not had the opportunity to mourn for his sister, loses his temper with our ancestors' complaints and hits the rock instead of speaking to it. G-d reprimands Moses by telling him he will not enter the promised land. I have often thought that this was a harsh consequence since Moses...

  Dear Friends, Last weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a Juneteenth commemoration in Fairfax at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. The following two quotes were a major part of my participation and led to the following experience which I want to share with you. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.”   ―  Martin Luther King Jr.,  Letter from Birmingham Jail “ Human Suffering Anywhere concerns men and women EVERYWHERE ” Elie Wiesel The link between the struggle for freedom between Blacks and Jews is strong.  Each Passover and in every generation we are obligated to remember that we were slaves to Pharao...