“Care-Being” - World AIDS Day Shabbat Drash - Nov 30, 2018

I am humbled to share the bimah tonight with the memories of those who died from AIDS, and with the voices of those who are now living with HIV and AIDS, and with the many who have loved and supported them over the years with physical, emotional, and spiritual care. You are our mighty builders and our gentle hearts.  

Of course, CBST has a decades-long history of caregiving around HIV/AIDS. The Chevra Bikkur Cholim, established in 1986, was a committee of CBST members who visited Jews with AIDS throughout the city. The NY AIDS Action Committee provided meals on Friday afternoons at the shul. We shared vital information at meetings and hosted onegs. Our members were leaders and volunteers in city-wide programs such as GMHC, the National Jewish AIDS Project, Callen-Lorde, and the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services. 

Two Invitations, Both Authentic and Vulnerable - Passover 2019

We make two invitations during the Passover seder. They bookend the evening beautifully. In the first, we hold up the matzah and announce Ha Lachma:

הָא לַחְמָא עַנְיָא דִּי אֲכָלוּ אַבְהָתָנָא בְאַרְעָא דְמִצְרָיִם
כָּל דִכְפִין יֵיתֵי וְיֵיכֹל, כָּל דִצְרִיךְ יֵיתֵי וְיִפְסַח

"This is the bread of destitution that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Anyone who is famished should come and eat; anyone who is in need should come and partake of the Pascal sacrifice."

New Liturgy: Blessing for Pastoral Conversations

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אוֹזֵר לַנוּ בִּגְבוּרָה, וְנוֹתֵן לָנוּ אֶת הַאֹמֶץ-לֵב לְהָבִין אֶת עַצְמֵנוּ וּלְהִתְרַפֵּא בְּמִילִים מְרַפּאוֹת. 

Barukh Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha’Olam, Ozer lanu bi’gvurah, ve’Notein lanu et ha’ometz-lev le’haveen et atzmeinu u’lehitrapeh be’milim merapot.

Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, Who encircles us with courage, and Who gives us the strength of heart to endeavor to understand ourselves and to be restored through healing words.

You Are Enough - Shabbat Shuvah Drash - Sep 14, 2018

I am so honored to be on this bimah in this role for the first time. Tonight we begin Shabbat Shuva, the Shabbat that falls in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The name is taken from the beginning of the haftarah, in which the prophet Hoshea implores:

שׁוּבָה יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ כִּי כָשַׁלְתָּ בַּעֲוֺנֶךָ

Return, Israel, to the LORD your God, For you have fallen because of your sin.

Now these are the heavy, awe-filled days of teshuvah. We are called upon to reflect, repent, re-align ourselves, return to God, return to the best of ourselves. It is a serious and deep undertaking.