Today is September 11 – 9/11
20 years ago, today, we woke up thinking it would be just another day, but 20 years ago, today, the world changed. 20 years ago, today, the world changed for almost 3,000 people murdered on planes, at the World Trade…
Rabbi Adrian Michael Schell
Proudly Jewish - Proudly Progressive
Rabbi Adrian Michael Schell
Proudly Jewish - Proudly Progressive
Category Judentum
A farewell to my Bet David community
Neilah Sermon – Farewell Address by Rabbi Adrian M Schell – Yom Kippur 5781/ 2020 My dear friends, chaverot and chaverim, The doors are closing. Figuratively as we end Yom Kippur – our liturgy reminding us, that our time to…
On Rosh Hashanah we affirm that we can change.
Friends, This is an incredibly special time of the year. In a few weeks we will celebrate, separated but still together, the High Holy Days; Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, then Sukkot and Simchat Torah. With all the uncertainties that surround…
How can we sing a song of our God on alien soil?
Dear Friends, The past few weeks have been difficult here in South Africa, as they have been for almost everyone. We said goodbye to cherished friends, family members and congregants who were laid to eternal rest due to the pandemic. As…
Proud children of Zelphehad’s daughters
See it again, my sermon from last Shabbat on why Progressive/Reform Judaism is AUTHENTIC Judaism.
Parashat Eikev: Cut away the foreskin of your hearts
Chaverim, See, the heavens and the heaven’s heavens belong to Adonai your God, the earth and everything on it. Yet Adonai fell in love with your ancestors and God chose you, their descendants, from all peoples, just as today. So,…
Parashat Masei: The grass only looks greener from far away
Chaverim, This week’s portion summarises the entire route followed by the Israelites from when they left Egypt until they were ready to enter Eretz Yisrael. The parsha begins, “Moshe wrote their going forth according to their journeys.” At the end of…
Parashat Matot: Thought and action should be unified.
If a man vows a vow to God, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. (Bamidbar 30:3) Chaverim,…
Pinchas: The achievement of Zelophehad’s daughters
In this week’s Torah portion, the daughters of Zelophehad petition to inherit their father’s portion. The story of Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah (Numbers 27:1-11) encapsulates the challenges that women faced and what they had to do in order…
Sh’lach lecha: See it with your own eyes
Chaverim, Once a year, I travel back to Germany to see my family and friends, but also to see for myself how things are, back in Europe. Things have changed since I moved to South Africa, nearly five years ago.…