Recording from Shabbat Services, September 1, 2018 D’var from Saturday, September 1, 2018 – Rabbi David Kosak *If you would like to download the recording and listen later, right click on the link then click “Save as” and it will save onto your computer for later listening. Recorded and edited by Ed Kraus. Click here for an archive of past recordings
On the East Coast, a class trip to Washington, DC was a rite of passage for many students. At least for those school districts who could afford it, exposing our youth to our nation’s capital was practically a mandate. It was a case of abstract civics made concrete. Anyone who has studied the architecture of Washington, DC understands that it was designed to convey a series of messages to those who walked its paths.
In the year after my father died, I lost my ability to speak to God. I couldn’t open the siddur, the words which I had read my entire life fell meaningless on my lips. My heart wasn’t in it. I couldn’t share a prayer of a loving God when I felt so unloved, and I couldn’t praise the creator of the world when I felt like my world had been so deeply crushed.
When I was a boy, I collected water from around the world. Sort of. What actually happened is that my grandparents traveled a lot. Before one of their trips, I asked them to bring me back water from their journeys as a memento. Don’t ask what prompted my request. The original impulse is long forgotten. But it’s reasonable to assume I wanted in on their adventures. I’ve always had the wanderlust.
Recording from Shabbat Services, August 24, 2018 D’var from Friday, August 24, 2018 – Rabbi David Kosak *If you would like to download the recording and listen later, right click on the link then click “Save as” and it will save onto your computer for later listening. Recorded and edited by Ed Kraus. Click here for an archive of past recordings
As I’ve written about before, I love the way that Judaism tackles death. From the laws of mourning, to the laws of memorializing, there are so many beautiful ways in which we are bound by law and practice to celebrate and honor the memory of our loved ones.
Aretha died today. You know you’ve touched a lot of lives when millions upon millions know you by your first name. It used to be an accomplishment that you earned because of the work you did. Now there’s fame without substance.
