The westernmost member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Jewish History
A Famous Jew You Never Knew
January 13, 2021

Waldemar Mordechai Haffkine
BBC via Dina Yoshimi
For those who are winding down for the semester, and those who just enjoy an interesting read:
Here’s a piece from the BBC about… Continue reading
Thoughts
From Les Rosenthal
You may think that you are completely insignificant in this world. But someone drinks coffee from the favorite cup that you gave them. Someone heard a song on the radio that reminded them of you. Someone read… Continue reading
Drash Schedule January 2021
Date | Parsha | Drash |
Jan 2 | Vayechi | Jay Friedheim |
Jan 9 | Shemot | Sid Goldstein |
Jan 16 | Vayera | Risa Dickson |
Jan 23
Jan 30 |
Bo
Beshalach (Shabbat Shirah) |
Reb Daniel Lev
Marlene Booth |
New York Cantors
Via Lorna Holmes
“Ose Shalom” with Azi Schwartz – Three young cantors, all rising stars in the world’s Jewish music scene, are brought together in Amsterdam’s revered 17th-century Portuguese Synagogue for a concert of Jewish sacred and secular music arranged… Continue reading
Gregor Mendel and Parshah Vayetze
A Drash by David Haymer
First, to echo comments made by Dan Bender and others, let me begin by saying that this Parshah is packed with dramatic events. In this one Parshah, we learn about (not in order): Jacob figuring… Continue reading
Sof Hanukkah 2020
A Small Hanukkah Miracle
By Mathew Sgan
Last year I had an almost full package of Hanukkah candles left over. I planned to use them for this year’s lighting ceremonies. Alas, on the fifth day, I started to worry that… Continue reading
Sof Holiday Recipes
Island Latke Recipe
By Hefcibah Martin
One bag Alexia Yukon hash browns
One finely chopped onion
One teaspoon salt
1/4 cup All-purpose flour
1/2 cup Panko
Three eggs beaten.
Fry in oil.
Cranberry sauce
One bag fresh cranberries
One… Continue reading
IllumiNation
On Thursday, December 17th, IllumiNation, a one-hour program spearheaded by Rabbi David Booth of Congregation Kol Emet in Palo Alto celebrated the 8th night of Chanukah in a nationwide, virtual celebration. Rabbi Booth is the nephew of Avi Soifer and… Continue reading
Dualities: Vayishlach Drash
By Fran Margulies
Jacob/Israel, one of our founding fathers, comes to us out of our mythic past. I say “mythic” because I think his story fits the dictionary definition of myth as “an ancient story of an ancestral hero who… Continue reading
Torah and Taro
Torah and Taro
January 12, 2021
A Book Review by Sid Goldstein
Mat Sgan’s third book, Torah and Taro, is an informative history of the Jewish contributions to the Hawaiian Islands. The book examines the impact that the… Continue reading