Dear Friends: This year has been quite a busy one in our Rabbinic Leadership Transition. We have spent the past many months honoring and thanking Rabbi Sussman for his 21 years as our distinguished Senior Rabbi and for his significant accomplishments both within our congregation and the greater community. Concurrently,...

This past Shabbat, our congregation celebrated the Bat Mitzvah of Sophie Sussman. Sophie is the daughter of Kelly and Benji Sussman. Sophie is also the granddaughter of Rabbi Lance and Liz Sussman. At the Bat Mitzvah, (stream here-around 45 min) Rabbi Sussman reflected about his own Bar Mitzvah, and the...

This coming Shabbat, we shall read the portion Aharei Mot/After the Death (of the two older sons of Aaron). We continue our progression through the third Torah book of Vayikra/Leviticus. As I have indicated in previous weeks, this book is filled with complex laws concerning the beginning of the sacrificial...

We are obligated at Passover to see ourselves as if we too have escaped from slavery to freedom. So at our seder, past is always present. We relive the journey, the miracle as the Red sea suddenly opens. Then fear- having only moments to decide to chance crossing or stay...

“From Now On, No Distinction:” Reform Judaism and the Redefinition of the Religious Status of Jewish Women, 1810-1975 (The Reform Advocate) By Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D. – Roots of Reform Judaism Senior Scholar for The Reform Advocate During the last fifty years, it has become typical, if not fashionable,...

We are all a little broken. Going through health challenges can remind us just how fragile we all are. Recently I had a health challenge of my own, and while I am coming out the other side of it, I am greatly aware of the amount of support it takes...