Happy Thanksgiving! I decided to do my Shabbat message one day early, so I could share my thanks to our wonderful congregation.

This week’s Torah portion Vayeira includes one of my favorite segments of dialogue in the Torah because it is truthful, funny and utterly human.

Havdalah means “separation.” The ceremony gives an implicit message: Time and experiences are not just one long continuum, but rather can be broken into units and given purpose and meaning.

Noach… Most often, this story is presented as a child’s story, but it is truly nothing of the sort.

The rabbis named her Lilith, from the root Lilah or night. Lilith, according to the legend, wanted to be Adam’s equal.

The Qur’an states that “if you kill an innocent life it is as if you have taken the life of all of humanity; and if you save an innocent life it is as if you have the saved the life of all of humanity.” On September 11, 2001 humanity died a thousand deaths.