Tag Jewish Wisdom

Probabilities Don’t Hug You Back: A Neilah Sermon for a World Without Guarantees

This Neilah sermon begins with a story from the town of Chelm, where a drought has caused a crisis of faith, and the people demand proof that God is listening. Into this debate steps Jossele, who argues that while he can't be certain about God, he knows that a life of kindness, forgiveness, and charity is a good life in itself. This sets the stage for the final, honest hour of Yom Kippur, when we must choose how to live without guarantees. The sermon is a call to live with "doubt in the head, faithfulness in the hands" , holding our values high even when the future is unknown and letting our hearts lead us through the gates.

Shabbat Shuvah

Take Words With You: A Jewish Guide to a Hopeful New Year

Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the work of 'teshuvah' (return) can feel daunting. But what if the essential tool for change isn't guilt, but language? Rabbi Adrian Schell explores the ancient Jewish "technology" of using words—for apology, for prayer, and for rewriting our own stories—as we prepare for the new year. Drawing on the Torah portion Vayeilech and the prophet Hosea, this sermon reframes Yom Kippur not as a day of judgment, but as a hopeful destination on a communal journey.