If you are doing a Torah or Haftarah portion for the High Holy Days, please click HERE for the PDF and MP3 files. Click HERE for a listing of the congregants doing portions at Wadsworth.
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“The Measure of our Success”
Erev Rosh Hashana 5770/2009
Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben, Ph.D.
Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation
It was that day in Gelsons that taught me what success is really all about. I was walking down an aisle near the dairy section when I realized that coming the other way and walking right towards me was one of my favorite actors – Dustin Hoffman.
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“Do Not Stand Idly By”
Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben, Ph.D.
Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation
Three people are trapped on a desert island for years - a Muslim, a Catholic and Jew. Naturally they spent a lot of their time beyond caring for their mere survival, dreaming of where they would go if they got off the island. Then one day the miracle happened - an ancient flask washed up on the shore of the island and as they picked it up and rubbed it, VOILA out popped a gigantic genie just like in all the legends.
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"Get Off the Oy Veh Path"
Rabbi Sheryl Lewart
Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation
I overheard this conversation (from a nearby table in a small restaurant in South Florida) during the “early bird special” dinner hour. An elderly “bubbe” was talking to her middle-aged son and his twenty-something daughter…
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"The Upside of the Economic Downslide"
Rabbi Sheryl Lewart
Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation
The fastest roller coaster in the world is currently Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure speeding at 128 MPH! Many of us feel the world is a roller coaster, and the car we’re riding on is on an economic downslide – plunging down – pulling at our souls while we gasp for breath, feeling ourselves tumbling down and out of control.
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“With a Little Help from My Maggid”
Rabbi Jon Hanish
Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation
It was Oct. 2002 and shiva had just ended. Our relatives had gone home. Our children were sleeping soundly in their beds. The leftover food was resting safely in the refrigerator.
My wife, Lisa, and I sat at our dining room table talking…. Just the two of us for the first time in days… Talking about Lilly, her ninety-nine year old grandmother who died a few months short of her centennial birthday.
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"With All Your Heart, with All Your Soul and with All Your Might"
Rabbi Jon Hanish
Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation
I remember the heaviness in my heart the day I left. I remember saying goodbye to her again and again and again. I remember the vow I made to return as soon as I was able. Mostly, I remember the love I felt for her. But I had to leave. A summer job called.
Once back home, I spent my days pining for her. People used the term obsessed behind my back. I didn’t care. I knew that my heart was my only true guide.
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"God's Final Exam"
Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben, Ph.D.
Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation
An elderly Mexican man lived alone in East Los Angeles. He wanted to spade his garden, but it was very hard work. Unfortunately, his only son, Manuel who used to help him with the hard work was now in prison. So the old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
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"We Need Angels"
Rabbi Sheryl Lewart
Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation
Why in the world do we need angels?
Do you know anyone you really respect who says they believe in angels?
Would you say you’ve been “touched by an angel”?
Do you believe in angels?
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