About These Days/About This Torah
Episodes
47 episodes
October 7th Three Years Later
In this Shabbat sermon Rabbi Steven Moskowitz reflects on the third anniversary of October 7th. He details what we have come to understand in the past three years, noting how the world magnifies Israel's mistakes and forgives Hamas' crime...
My Beating Heart's Lessons
In this Yom Kippur evening sermon Rabbi Moskowitz elaborates the lessons he gained as he confronted his heart's arrhythmias. He learned healing begins by forgiving yourself. It is aided by friends and supported by community. A...
Loyalty Means Love Not Agreement
In this Yom Kippur morning sermon Rabbi Moskowitz argues love should precede agreement. We should cultivate Ahavat Yisrael, love of the Jewish people, as a foundational value that transcends disagreement and prevents divisions. This...
Fighting Antisemitism Again and Again
Rabbi Moskowitz's Rosh Hashanah morning sermon about the resurgence of antisemitism. He argues about how populist rage on the right and especially the left is making the world dangerous for Jews. He says, "When someone calls Israel ...
Why We Are Fighting Against Iran
Rabbi Moskowitz's sermon about the war against Iran. He explores the reasons why Israel and America are fighting this war and shares his worries about what might happen next. This sermon was recorded in our synagogue's sanctuary.&nb...
Borders, Violence and Values
Rabbi Moskowitz's sermon following the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and the return of the last hostage Ran Gvili's body from Gaza. He suggests that their deaths may shape the destinies of Israel and the United States if they push...
Life Is Random and Unexpected
Rabbi Moskowitz's sermon from Shabbat Lech Lecha about Abraham's call. He offers a new interpretation of Abraham's call suggesting that it was random and unexpected. Abraham's journey to the land of Israel was a continuation of his ...
Defending What's Right, Protesting What's Wrong
Rabbi Moskowitz's Yom Kippur morning sermon. After two years of this destructive and harrowing war between Israel and Hamas, he urges us to regain our balance and not only defend Israel but raise our voices in protest. While Israel ...
Age Old Answers to Today's Fears
Rabbi Moskowitz's Rosh Hashanah morning sermon. He suggests two ways we can combat today's fears. Leaning on the tradition, he urges us to recite blessings, in particular when awaking in the morning. Citing examples from the T...
May Their Memories Become Blessings
Rabbi Moskowitz's sermon about Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lifschinsky. He meditates on their all too brief lives and their dreams of a better, more peaceful future. He concludes, "We are now two steps farther away from realizing this p...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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 ...