Posted on September 27, 2023
Yom Kippur 2023 Sermons “Israel – The Hope” Sermon for Yom Kippur, 5784/2023, by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman Looking about in this room, we see a beautifully diverse community with members from varied Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds. Our synagogue is affiliated with the Conservative movement, but we have members who come from Reform, Reconstructionist and Orthodox Continue Reading »
Posted on September 27, 2023
Rosh Hashanah 2023 Sermons “Birds, Bees and Butterflies” Sermon for Rosh Hashanah Day 1, 5784/2023 by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman I want to begin by thanking Pastor David Clark whose ideas greatly influenced my sermon today. We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful place, where each season brings its treasures and where in Continue Reading »
Posted on September 12, 2023
Dear Friends, As we approach the High Holidays I am reminded of a powerful statement in one of our essential prayers. At the conclusion of the U’netaneh Tokef prayer, in which the liturgist asks the questions, “Who shall live and Who shall die? Who by fire and Who by water…?” we join the cantor in singing, “but teshuvah (repentance), tefilah (prayer) Continue Reading »
Posted on September 6, 2023
Everything you need to know about High Holidays at Temple Israel in Portsmouth. It’s been a grueling couple of weeks in the synagogue office – as many of you may have noticed. Kol hakavod (good job!) to Heather and everyone on the various committees working SO hard to make everything come together for the holiday Continue Reading »
Posted on September 6, 2023
Yom Kippur 2022 Sermons “On Shame and Forgiveness” Sermon for Kol Nidre 5783/2022, by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman The following is a Midrash – a Rabbinic Legend: On the 6th day of creation, when God was ready to create human beings, God decided to give human beings a special gift. Each one of them would receive Continue Reading »
Posted on September 6, 2023
Rosh Hashanah 2022 Sermon & Video “Dor Hamidbar – The Wilderness Generation” Sermon for Rosh Hashanah Day 1, by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman The wonderful Hebrew poet Zelda wrote a poem about names- about how each person carries many names based on their experiences, their behaviors, their gifts and their limitations. She writes: Each of us Continue Reading »
Posted on September 6, 2023
Yom Kippur 2021 Sermons “Telling Our Stories” Sermon for Kol Nidre, by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman We have choices. Our lives are a series of choices that have brought us all individually and collectively to this moment. Brukhim Habaim-Welcome to this moment! In our foundational origin story, when Adam and Chava eat from the Tree of the Continue Reading »
Posted on September 6, 2023
Rosh Hashanah 2021 Multimedia Missed part of the High Holidays? View our services or read through these resources. Erev Rosh Hashanah Seder Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Service Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Service See All 2021 High Holiday Videos Just the Highlights Rosh Hashanah 2021 Sermons & Highlights “I Love to Walk” Sermon for Rosh Continue Reading »
Posted on September 6, 2023
High Holidays 2020 Videos and Sermons Missed part of the High Holidays? View our services or read through these resources. Rosh Hashanah 2020 Rosh Hashanah Day 1 “Pregnant with Possibilities” Read the sermon (PDF) Rosh Hashanah Day 2 “The Unbinding of Isaac” Watch the sermon | Read the sermon Yom Kippur 2020 Kol Nidre “The Suppleness of Continue Reading »
Posted on August 14, 2023
Shalom, The High Holidays are coming up! If you plan to attend High Holiday services at Temple Israel, either virtually or in person, we need to know! So please sign up today. Learn More About High Holidays at TIP Register for High Holiday Tickets Register for the Yom Kippur Community Break-Fast If you need assistance Continue Reading »
