“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 […]
This post on If Not Now, When?, the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, is the sermon shared by Rabbi Elle Muhlbaum at the Contemporary Service on Kol Nidre, 2020. There’s a rabbinic tradition, a midrash, that teaches that whenever two come together to study Torah panim el panim, face to face, the Shechinah, or […]
This post on If Not Now, When?, the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, is the sermon shared by Rabbi Elle Muhlbaum at the Anshe Chesed Temple Youth (ACTY) Service on Kol Nidre, 2020. Growing up, I loved immersing myself in the world of Harry Potter. I quickly identified with Hermione Granger: her unflappability, her […]
This post on If Not Now, When?, the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, is the sermon shared by Rabbi Joshua Caruso on Yom Kippur, 2020. As a newly minted rabbi, I was tasked to officiate at a funeral for a family I did not know. As is customary, I met with the grieving loved ones […]
This message on “If Not Now, When?” the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple is from Rabbi Andi Berlin, guest rabbi, shared on Yom Kippur, 2020. On Yom Kippur, we are commanded to do some very difficult work: the work of Cheshbon Hanefesh – literally, an accounting of our soul. While all year long […]
This post on If Not Now, When?, the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, was shared by Fairmount Temple Board President on Rosh Hashanah, 2020 Shana Tova! I’m Todd Silverman and it is my honor to be the President of Fairmount Temple. I stand with you tonight full of gratitude and appreciation for all of you, […]
This post on If Not Now, When?, the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, is the sermon shared by Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk on Yom Kippur, 2020. It was almost 11 years ago, when we still lived in Virginia. I had spinal surgery to fuse portions of my lumbar spinal column. It was my fourth back surgery […]
This post on If Not Now, When?, the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, is the sermon shared by Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk on Kol Nidre, 2020. There is a story I enjoy about a rabbi who just before Yom Kippur was about to begin called his family to the entrance of his temple. Then he invited […]
This post on If Not Now, When?, the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, is the sermon shared by Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk on Rosh Hashanah, 2020. The late U.S. Congressman John Lewis once said: “You have to tell the whole truth, the good, the bad, and maybe some things that are uncomfortable for some people.” I […]
This message on “If Not Now, When?” the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple is from Rabbi Andi Berlin, guest rabbi, shared on Rosh Hashanah, 2020. In a swirl, in a mess, in total chaos and disorder, a burst of (what was it? Flame, fire, light?), God began to create… And from […]
This post on If Not Now, When?, the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, is the sermon shared by Rabbi Joshua Caruso on Erev Rosh Hashanah, 2020. At break of day, the angels pushed Lot to get going, “Hurry. Get your wife and two daughters out of here before it’s too late and you’re caught […]
