Rabbi’s Message

Community at Temple Israel Rabbi’s Message – August 13, 2026 Usually when I have a first meeting for a b’nei mitzvah student, it is with a tween and we take a moment to talk about the why of celebrating becoming Bar/Bat/Bet Mitzvah.  On a Monday in October, I gathered with around a dozen folks on Zoom and […]

Community at Temple Israel Rabbi’s Message – August 6, 2026 Next week we enter the month of Elul, the season that begins our spiritual preparation for the High Holy Days. We hear the shofar. We engage in cheshbon hanefesh, an honest accounting of our lives. We reflect on our relationships—with God, with others, and with ourselves.

Community at Temple Israel Rabbi’s Message – July 23, 2026 Last Yom Kippur, Rabbi Bodney-Halasz spoke about how holiness is found within brokenness.  Today is Tisha B’Av, the day on which Judaism attributes the worst tragedies in our history going back to the destruction of both Temples.  We transition from mourning on this day, to

Community at Temple Israel Rabbi’s Message – July 16, 2026 Have you ever spent several minutes looking for something that was right in front of you?  It happens to me more often than I care to admit.  A few years ago, Scott and I were rushing to get on the road when he couldn’t find his glasses.

Community at Temple Israel Rabbi’s Message -July 2, 2026 As we celebrate the Fourth of July this year, we do so at a remarkable moment in our nation’s history. This Independence Day marks America’s 250th birthday. For American Jews, that anniversary carries particular meaning. For most of Jewish history, Jews lived not as citizens, but

Community at Temple Israel Rabbi’s Message -June 11, 2026 This Friday evening, Temple Israel will celebrate Pride Shabbat. Pride Month is often a time of celebration, but for many in the LGBTQ+ community, this year is also a time of uncertainty. Across the country, laws and policies affecting LGBTQ+ individuals continue to change, creating real

Community at Temple Israel Rabbi’s Message -May 20, 2026 Tonight, our Temple Israel family will gather to celebrate Shavuot and the Confirmation of five remarkable young people. We honor:  • Matteo Chaiten, child of Jodi Chaiten and Corinne Daprano• Hillary Katchman, child of Nika and Steve Katchman• Beau Kleinholt, child of Lela Klein and Robert

Community at Temple Israel Rabbi’s Message -May 14, 2026 On May 1, Temple Israel had the privilege of welcoming Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, to Dayton for an evening that celebrated not only Jewish leadership and learning, but the strength and continuity of our own community. The evening was especially

Community at Temple Israel Festival Volunteer Message -April 27, 2026 From the Desk of Cathy LiebermanCertified JCF hot dog aficionado, longtime volunteer, set-up crew, tear-down crew—and proud Temple Israel member. If you’ve ever been part of the Jewish Cultural Festival, you know—there’s no such thing as just showing up. Over the years, we all ended

Community at Temple Israel Rabbi’s Message -January 15, 2026 This past Shabbat, we honored the 15th yahrzeit of Debbie Friedman, and the fruits of her work to create Jewish music that would bring people together in song and spirit.  This coming Shabbat, we will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and the Civil