About These Days/About This Torah
Rabbi Steven Moskowitz's sermons from Congregation L'Dor V'Dor's High Holiday and Shabbat services. Congregation L'Dor V'Dor is located in Oyster Bay, Long Island but its teachings and songs know no geographical boundaries. www.rabbimoskowitz.com.
Episodes
37 episodes
Love Is Not Easy but What Is Needed
Rabbi Moskowitz's Yom Kippur morning sermon about how the October 7th attacks unmasked the antisemitism cloaked as anti-Zionism. He argues that it is a continuing assault on our central story of the Jewish people's return to the land of I...
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26:29
Adversity, Resilience and October 7th
Rabbi Moskowitz's Yom Kippur evening sermon about how we might strengthen ourselves in the face of the October 7th attacks and the antisemitism it fomented. He argues that we must be honest, tenacious and flexible when facing these threat...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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24:38
I Still Believe
Rabbi Moskowitz's Rosh Hashanah morning sermon about the October 7th massacre and the continuing war. He articulates why he remains a devoted Zionist and the necessity of choosing power over powerlessness. He tells stories from this...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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28:45
Bring Them Home Now
Rabbi Moskowitz's sermon about the murder of six Israeli hostages only days before soldiers reached them and the need for a cease fire. He discusses Hersh Goldberg-Polin in particular and the remarkable courage of his parents Jon and Rach...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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10:15
Fight for Life
Rabbi Moskowitz's sermon marking Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. He recalls the memories of Annie Bleiberg z"l, a Holocaust survivor and draws lessons for our own day. He reminds us of her words, "Life is always worth fighti...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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11:08
Be Proud To Be Jews
Rabbi Moskowitz's sermon about his recent trip to Israel. He shares three stories about ordinary Israelis and what we can learn from their extraordinary examples, in particular Baruch Cohen who was injured on October 7th while defending K...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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11:56
Today's Antisemitism and Today's Politics
Rabbi Moskowitz's sermon from Shabbat evening services, March 22nd. On this Shabbat Zachor he explores what is different about today's antisemitism, in particular dwelling on the hate directed against the State of Israel from liberal circ...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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12:50
We Are Stronger Than You Think!
Rabbi Moskowitz traveled to Israel on a rabbinic solidarity mission. In this sermon, he shares what he learned and experienced there. He argues that we can draw strength from the people of Israel and offers examples of the extraordi...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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17:06
Let's Be Clear About Hamas
Rabbi Moskowitz's sermon from Shabbat services on Friday October 13th, a week after the massacre of 1300 Israelis by Hamas terrorists. He states: "Hamas’ aim is the destruction of the State of Israel and the murder of Jews. I cannot fath...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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10:02
Standing with Israeli Protestors
Rabbi Moskowitz's Yom Kippur morning sermon exploring history's messy and uncomfortable truths, in particular those facing the modern State of Israel. He argues that American Jews need to support Israel's democratic foundations and the pr...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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25:46
Gates Are Meant To Be Opened
Rabbi Moskowitz's Yom Kippur evening sermon exploring the sometimes hidden gates we construct, from the language of our Jewish tradition to security cameras, that too often push people away and diminish the hope in our hearts. This sermon...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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21:56
Rebalancing Our Lives
Rabbi Steven Moskowitz's Rosh Hashanah morning sermon about the importance and need of reacquainting with the natural world. Drawing on personal experiences he offers three suggestions: 1) explore our own backyards, 2) reclaim Shabbat as ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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22:14
Israel Needs a Constitution!
Rabbi Steven Moskowitz's sermon in honor of Yom Haatzmaut, the State of Israel's 75th anniversary. He relishes in this unique historical moment, celebrates Israel's accomplishments and offers arguments that Israel needs a constitution to ...
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10:27
Rise Up and Take Note
Rabbi Moskowitz's sermon in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day. He draws on his visit to Montgomery's Legacy Museum, Reverend King's example and most especially the lessons from the weekly Torah portion. We must do better.&nbs...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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11:53
That's Because They're Jewish
Let us reach out to others because we are Jewish. And let the world say, "Look at the good they are doing because they are Jewish." Let these acts serve as reminders of our Jewish faith. This sermon was recorded in our synagog...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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7:50
Don't Let Antisemitism Define Us
Rabbi Moskowitz's sermon about the rise of antisemitism. He explores the different types of antisemitic hate and how best to respond, saying, "Prayer is about perspective. And being a Jew is about having hope. We can persevera...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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13:16
Why We Need Israel (and Zionism)
Rabbi Moskowitz's Yom Kippur morning sermon about why American Jews need to reexamine the meaning of Zionism and Israel. He argues that we need Israel as much as Israel needs us. He begins by telling the story of Zionism's beginning...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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25:01
Give Some More Peace
Rabbi Moskowitz's Yom Kippur evening sermon about the importance of making peace with those closest to us. Pursuing peace is not so much about nations but instead about us. He explores the relationship between war and peace, and th...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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19:48
It's All About the Kippah and Concession Speech
Rabbi Moskowitz's Rosh Hashanah morning sermon about the importance of custom to our families, community and country. In it he argues that the seemingly small customs such as haroset recipes, wearing kippahs and candidates' concession sp...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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22:52
Feeling So Small: Abortion Rights & LGBTQ Rights Sermon
Rabbi Moskowitz explores his emotions of feeling small in the face of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and his worries about the future of LGBTQ rights. He reaffirms Jewish teachings that women's health should be priorit...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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9:05
Sangria's Blessings Sermon
The most important thing is not the exact counting the week's Torah portion suggests but instead savoring our blessings. "A blessing can take any form. The most important thing is to find them and collect them rather than co...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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9:02
Let Us Fashion Peace Sermon
Thoughts about the war in Ukraine and the need to stand with Ukraine's democracy and against Russian tyranny, as well as some insights gleaned from one letter of Torah. "I do not pretend to know how best to end this war or how we, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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9:46
Antisemitism Is Here to Stay Sermon
Antisemitism is here to stay; it always has been, and it always will. My thoughts on the hostage taking at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas and the growing threat of antisemitism. It make no political distinctions!&nb...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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12:13