Author Archives: rabbisteinman

This was my Shabbat sermon for Parashat Va-etchanan, Shabbat Nachamu, delivered at Temple Beth Shalom, Austin, TX. On my summer vacation, I slept with shoes by the bed. As a former Californian, the land of earthquakes, this is nothing new … Continue reading →

Something felt heavy on my heart all day. It took me awhile to realize why. Tonight begins the final day of Passover and tomorrow is the Yizkor service, so tonight in addition to the holiday candles, I will light a … Continue reading →

Today was one of “those days.” I got to be a rabbi today. That was wonderful. I prepared some words of Torah, I met with congregants, I worked on the forth coming CCAR convention, and I evaluated some student work … Continue reading →

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’Olam matir asurim – Blessed are You, Adonai our God infinite Sovereign who frees captives. Every morning we recite this blessing and since Saturday night when our siblings in Colleyville fought for their escape from … Continue reading →

Tonight, again, I light the yartzeit candle. For 11 years, on the 5th of Kislev, I remember you. The cruel twist is that I don’t need to light a candle to remember you. You’re in every dish I cook, every … Continue reading →

We keep saying it over and over again. “I can’t wait for things to get back to normal.” We have such high hopes for normal. We will take that trip to Europe we planned, or have our grandchildren sleep over. … Continue reading →

My sermon tonight is in the form of a letter to a guiding light of the Jewish people. 1 Tishrei 5782/6 September 2021 Dear Rav Avraham Yisrael haCohen Kook,          Shanah tovah, Happy new year. Our High Holy day theme … Continue reading →

I feel very fortunate to contribute to two articles, one I wrote and one in which I was interviewed this week. The Austin American-Statesman published “Chance to meet God anywhere as Jews prepare for the new year,” on Saturday. Yesterday, … Continue reading →

It has been a difficult few days. The abhorrent violence in our nation’s Capitol on Wednesday has left many scared, angry, and sleepless. Whatever our political leanings, the desecration through violence of the halls of Congress and the hate-filled, antisemitic, … Continue reading →

As the sun sets and the first Shabbat of 2021 begins, and we read the final words of the book of Genesis. In this portion, Jacob blesses his children as he prepares for death. So, on this Shabbat I too … Continue reading →