Rabbi Cohen’s Writings

Dear Friends, When introducing us to Noah in this week’s portion, the Torah tells us, “These are the generations of Noah—Noah was a righteous man in his generation.” In the Talmud, Rabbi Yochanan immediately picks up on this wording and states, “In his generation but not in other [...]

Dear Friends, At various times in my rabbinate I have been accused of being too “political” in my sermons. Usually such comments came after a sermon or Shabbat message that addressed social policy. Each time I have tried to explain that social policy, ie. politics, is how we [...]

You shall live in booths [sukkot] seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I the LORD your God. (Leviticus [...]

Dear Friends, The story goes that a local man saw the Rabbi rushing down the street deep in thought. “Rabbi,” the man said, “why are you rushing from place to place?” The rabbi replied, “I'm rushing to make sure the prayers are in order for Yom Kippur.” “Perhaps,” [...]