There are several ways to remember to “count Sefira” every night between the second night of Pesach and Shavuot. The preferred method is to attend minyan and count together with the tzibur at shul each night, or be reminded each morning in case you forgot the night before. (Yes, that is a not so subtle hint […]

I am taking a first of its kind online course in continuing education for Rabbi’s administered by Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future.  Haaretz ran an article on the course in which I am quoted.  Please follow the link below to the article.   http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-features/ask-the-rabbi-2-0-new-online-course-in-marriage-counseling-serves-as-the-rabbi-s-rabbi.premium-1.506902

In advance of this Monday’s joint BIAV/Beth Torah blood drive this Monday, February 18th, I will be giving a Shabbat afternoon shiur this weekend at 4:20pm on the topic of Giving Blood According to Halacha. As of Thursday morning, there were still thirteen slots available for the blood drive, so make sure you sign up […]

We will once again be hosting a group of students from Yeshiva University for our YU Kansas Summer Experience.  Our community received an award for the program at YU’s ChampionsGate Conference this past summer.  Check out this video which features our program http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8gtVyLDGT4&feature=plcp The program will run from May 31-June 23rd and we already have sixty […]

This is an interview/article I did for Chavrusa magazine, the alumni publication for Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Rabbinical Seminary.  It features many of the things I’m involved in and many aspects of our wonderful community. You may find the link here http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/789178 (Keep in mind the intended audience is my fellow Rabbinic Alumni from YU. […]

For those who missed it, YU Torah produced an excellent Halftime Show.  Its enjoyable, inspirational, and you may learn something (even about football!) Forget the commercials – Are you ready for some – Torah?! The YU Torah Halftime show is a series of three brief, exciting and inspiring presentations on “Torah and Sports” topics. Our […]

These are the words  that I shared at the recent JCRB-AJC Event featuring Ambassador Michael Oren.  As a member of the board of JCRB-AJC, I was honored with the opportunity to begin the evening with words of Torah and Prayer. January 28th, 2013 Yitro and Moshe: A Model Partnership This week in synagogue we will […]

Dr. Rona Novick was our guest speaker at Purim Gala 2013.  Dr. Novick’s topic was Youthful Wonder: The Life Lessons We can Learn From Children. Dr. Novick has posted her presentation on her blog with some beautiful comments about the event and our community. You may see it here: Youthful Wonder: Life Lessons From Children

Here is a very interesting study of the activities of Rabb Simon Glazer, who was the Chief Rabbi of the  in Kansas City from 1920-1923.  At a very different time in American Jewish life, he accomplished several groundbreaking initiatives in his short time here in the areas of communal structure and philanthropy, education, kashrut, and […]

(for those who haven’t seen this fascinating tidbit that has been circulating… ) Next year features an anomaly for American Jews – The first day of Hanukkah coincides with Thanksgiving, on 11/28/2013. I was curious how often this happens. It turns out that it has never happened before…and it will never happen again. Thanksgiving is […]