mstreiffer

12 Years: Remembering Marla

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Yesterday, my wife Shoshana and I saw the movie Boyhood. As most people know by now, the movie was filmed over the course of 12 years. You get to watch the child actors grow up and the adult actors grow older, right before your eyes.ContinueContinue reading “12 Years: Remembering Marla”

Building an Inclusive Jewish Community

Both as a rabbi and as a parent, it is important to me that Judaism be inclusive of people with special needs. Today, more and more, young people who have Autism, Aspergers, Down’s Syndrome, and other similar challenges are being encouraged to participate to their full potential in Jewish life! Purely by coincidence, I’ve hadContinueContinue reading “Building an Inclusive Jewish Community”

The Courage to Reconcile – A Sermon for Vayigash 5774 (A Tribute to Nelson Mandela)

He is a symbol of hope. Born as a son of a tribal head, he was imprisoned and left to languish. But through the sheer force of hope, through charisma and intelligence and shrewd political manoeuvring, he rose to prominence, he saved his people, and he transformed a nation.It may not be who you think.ContinueContinue reading “The Courage to Reconcile – A Sermon for Vayigash 5774 (A Tribute to Nelson Mandela)”

Opening Our Doors – A Sermon for Rosh Hashanah 5774

Two thousand years ago, there were two great rabbis – Shammai and Hillel. A man once came to Shammai with a religious challenge. He said to the rabbi: “I will become a Jew if you can teach me the whole Torah while I am standing on one foot.” Well, of course you can’t possibly learnContinueContinue reading “Opening Our Doors – A Sermon for Rosh Hashanah 5774”