Happy Birthday Israel

Tonight we begin the celebration of Yom Haatzmaut, Israel’s 67th Independence Day.   Happy Birthday Israel! It was 67 years ago that the modern State of Israel was born. But it was really a rebirth of our ancient nation state, reborn after 2000 years! The Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel reads: THE DECLARATION:…Read more »

#Israel at 65

This sermon was given Friday April 12, 2013 at Congregation Kol Ami, West Hollywood CA. Israel at 65 Next Week we celebrate Israel’s 65th birthday!  Far from retirement-Israel is just getting started.  It is a nation in progress.  Who would have dreamt 65 years ago-from the grief of the Shoah and the grips of a World War,…Read more »

After death…there is Life again

Parshat Achrei Mot/ Yom Haaztmaut Leviticus 16:1-18:30 This week we celebrate Yom Hazikron and Yom Haaztmaut –Israel’s Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers of the IDF and the next day Israel’s 64th birthday, Israel Independence Day.  Tuesday night and Wednesday day is Israel’s Memorial Day and Wednesday night and Thursday is Yom Haaztmaut-the celebration of…Read more »

The Sanctity of the land

Parshat Behar/Yom Haatzmaut Leviticus 25:1-26:2 Parshat Behar teaches us about the cycles of the land. Specifically it teaches about the sabbatical year and the Jubilee year.  These are cycles of land rest every seventh year and every fiftieth year.  Just like Shabbat each week, the seventh day, when human beings and work animals are to…Read more »

Number 63

It’s Israel’s Birthday.  Number 63!  Well the Modern State of Israel is 63 years old today.  It is Yom Haatzmaut, Israel Independence Day.  Of course Israel is 1000’s of years old.  It is an ancient land, the Promised Land of the Torah.  And it is 63 years since the revival of the political entity of…Read more »