Rabbi Andy Bachman
Rosh Hashanah Sermon
Congregation Beth Elohim
Brooklyn NY
September 29, 2008
There is a picture on my desk of four people watching the sunset on Jerusalem’s Old City. Three daughters and their father. Everytime I look at that picture, my heart swells with joy and skips a beat in sorrow. What a Jewish moment. […]

Israel Prize winner, Professor Zeev Sternhell was attacked by right wing Jewish extremists this morning in Jerusalem. A pipe bomb, planted by territorial maximalists with the following flyer offering a 1 million shekel reward for killing a member of Peace Now, is a chilling indication of some of the evil forces at play internally […]

The great bassist Richard Davis, who teaches at the University of Wisconsin, once told a story to his Jazz Appreciation class about John Coltrane. The story went something like this:
At a certain point in his career, Coltrane showed up at a club ready to play. He didn’t warm up, he didn’t sit around, […]

Wow.

Alcee Hastings.
Regardless of where you stand, the honesty is admirable.

CBE member Gary Shaffer, who teaches a class on Mussar, Jewish ethical literature, each Tuesday night, has a terrific article in the current issue of Reform Judaism Magazine.
Give it a look.

Nicolai Ouroussoff’s review of the newly renovated California Academy of Sciences is a must read in today’s Times.

I read about this last month in Metropolis, where the essential question was asked before renovation: what should a building built in the 19th century think about doing as a building in the 21st century?
That re-thinking […]

I SHOULD be readying myself for the Holy Days with only sacred texts but like some demonic angel, Philip Roth always seems to come out with his new books in the fall.
So this Shabbat it’s all about Indignation. Ah, well.

Charles Miller’s portraits and prints are up and on display at Colson’s Patisserie at 374 9th St in Park Slope.
These amazing paintings and prints are a must see.
Check them out!
Here are a few words from Charles Miller’s statement about his work:

It is my goal as an artist and painter to bring these great figures […]

Film Park Slope 2008-9 premiers on Tuesday night September 23 at CBE with the screening of “Married Life” with a special appearance by its director, Ira Sachs.

Here’s a synopsis, with plenty to contemplate in this season of repentance!
Harry Allen (Chris Cooper) is a suburban businessman
intent on leaving his adoring wife Pat (Patricia Clarkson) for […]

Fresh from college and into the frying pan of America’s greatest financial meltdown in decades, CBE member Sam Baris writes about his impressions in today’s Times.
Hang in there, Sam.