Voices

If Not Now, When?: Our Blog

Posted on May 18, 2012

“If Not Now, When?” Our new Anshe Chesed blog takes its name from one of three questions posed by Rabbi Hillel centuries ago. The other two questions were: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” and “If I am only for myself, what am I?” To all of us at Anshe Chesed, “If Not Continue Reading »

The Truth About Zionism

Posted on April 30, 2024

Rabbi Joshua Caruso recently shared some thoughts on the college protests happening around us. College protest is nothing new; in fact, it is a hallmark of an open and free society. I am proud to live in a country that allows for a voicing of views, even if those views are not always shared by Continue Reading »

Recognizing Passover Will be Different This Year

Posted on April 15, 2024

Rabbi Joshua Caruso recently shared reflections on the upcoming Passover Holiday and “how the refrains of Let My People Go ring differently” –   Passover will soon be upon us, and along with the festival brings the beauty of the Seder, the symbolic foods, and the gathering of family and friends. This year, however, the Continue Reading »

Candlewicks Waiting To Be Lit

Posted on March 18, 2024

This sermon, Candlewicks Waiting To Be Lit, was shared by Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk at the March 15, 2024 Shabbat Service, after the historic vote to merge by members of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple and The Temple-Tifereth Israel.   It’s not just Shabbat. It’s the 6th of Adar. From here to the Adar II 14, the Continue Reading »

Penetrating Through The Darkness

Posted on January 24, 2024

This sermon was delivered by Rabbi Elle Muhlbaum during the Friday, Jan. 19, Shabbat Evening Service when she spoke at The Temple-Tifereth Israel.   Shabbat shalom! I’m delighted to be here with all of you this evening. I want to start my remarks tonight with a story. Once, during a trip to Israel, I had Continue Reading »

Grieving For Israel

Posted on October 16, 2023

Rabbi Joshua Caruso shared the following sermon, “Grieving for Israel,” at the Friday, Oct. 13, Shabbat Evening Service, the Shabbat that followed the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas. Years ago, a colleague of mine spoke at a rabbinical conference. He talked about how inspirational the youth were at his temple. He talked about stopping Continue Reading »

Signs That Say What You Want Them To Say

Posted on September 27, 2023

This reflection,  Signs That Say What You Want Them To Say, was shared by Rabbi Robert A. Nosanchuk on Yom Kippur, September 25, 2023, as part of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple’s worship held at Severance Music Center in Cleveland.   A year and a half ago, we were touring the Guggenheim on NY’s Upper East Continue Reading »

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

Posted on September 26, 2023

This sermon,  Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow, was shared by Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk on Kol Nidre, September 24, 2023, as part of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple’s worship held at Severance Music Center in Cleveland.    It was 35 years back. I don’t remember why. But one weekend in October, 1988, I drove to Continue Reading »

Abortion Access and Rachamim: Cultivating Empathy

Posted on September 26, 2023

This sermon, Abortion Access and Rachamim: Cultivating Empathy, was shared by Rabbi Elle Muhlbaum on Yom Kippur Morning, September 25, 2023.  I have a friend I’ll call Chanah, who was a young college student in the mid-1960s. Chanah and her boyfriend had been together for a while. She was tracking her cycles, and thought she Continue Reading »

Lead Me Into The Mystery

Posted on September 18, 2023

This sermon, Lead me Into the Mystery, was shared by Rabbi Joshua Caruso on Rosh Hashanah Morning, September 16, 2023. Back when I was in seminary, I got an invite to a much-anticipated public reading of a new translation of the Torah by the scholar, Everett Fox. This was a big deal because Fox was Continue Reading »

We Have So Much To Be Proud of This Year!

Posted on September 18, 2023

At our Erev Rosh Hashanah,  September 15, 2023, Fairmount Temple Board President Michele Krantz shared some words of appreciation and updates on our exploration talks with The Temple-Tifereth Israel: At Fairmount, as in many reform congregations, it is tradition for the President of the congregation to make a speech at Rosh Hashanah. In fact, the Continue Reading »