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“Things That Drive Me Nuts: Jewish and Otherwise”

11/12/2023 11:40:47 AM

Nov12

Rabbi Peter H. Grumbacher

   Certain words and phrases bother me. I once wrote in another publication that “reach out” has, in my humble opinion, a specific meaning, namely, to offer help. Today we don’t call, text, email, visit, rather we “reach out” to everyone and everything. Hooey!

   “No worries” and “No problem,” two phrases that make me particularly crazy. When someone says, “Thank you,” replying with those...Read more...

“What Did You Learn in School Today?: One Half of the Whole Question”

11/10/2023 11:45:43 AM

Nov10

Peter H. Grumbacher, Interim Rabbi

   Last Sunday I asked the kids in our religious school, “What did you learn in school last week?” I started with the subject we discussed in our fifteen minute session with parents. I was surprised…and very happy…that some of them were pretty specific with their answers. Let’s experiment.

   (To the students present in the congregation: “Do you remember what it was? We spoke about tzedakah. What does...Read more...

“Thoughts on the Israel-Hamas War: The Fronts Abroad and the Fronts at Home”

10/27/2023 08:08:02 PM

Oct27

Peter H. Grumbacher, Interim Rabbi

“Thoughts on the Israel-Hamas War: The Fronts Abroad and the Fronts at Home” Peter H. Grumbacher, Interim Rabbi Temple Beth El – Newark, Delaware October 27, 2023 ______________ Yes, we had a wonderful time on our cruise, and I’m not going to present a travelogue on our experiences. Too much happened between the last time on stood on this bimah and tonight. I regret not having been here when you probably need a rabbi the most, but I...Read more...

“Sometimes We Need to Chuckle…  And If Not Now, When?”

10/27/2023 11:37:34 AM

Oct27

Rabbi Peter H. Grumbacher

  I know the situation in Israel remains critical and I pray that peace and normalization will soon be at hand. And while most rabbis will not allow themselves to entertain a bit of humor at this time – and I admit, I might be wrong in doing so –  I will do so anyway.  If you think it came from Borscht Belt comedians, you’re probably right. That’s because while most of the jokes today aren’t exactly “K” rated,...Read more...

“Strengthening the Democratic Experiment”

10/12/2023 05:05:15 PM

Oct12

“Strengthening the Democratic Experiment” Solidarity with Israel Shabbat Shemini Atzeret Shabbat October 6, 2023 Peter H. Grumbacher – Interim Rabbi Temple Beth El – Newark, Delaware ________________ This Shabbat is also Shemini Atzeret, the poor sibling of Simchat Torah. The Levitical description tells us that the first and last days of Succot are holy, Shemini Atzeret being this last day, Simchat Torah tomorrow eve and Sunday. On...Read more...

“Imitating Life Itself: The Brilliance of the Succah”

09/30/2023 07:08:23 PM

Sep30

Peter H. Grumbacher – Interim Rabbi

“Imitating Life Itself: The Brilliance of the Succah” Succot/Shabbat - September 30, 2023 Peter H. Grumbacher – Interim Rabbi Temple Beth El – Newark, Delaware ______________________ At Beth Emeth we had one of the most beautiful Succot decorated with palm leaves and fruit, highlighted with the cutouts created by our religious school students. For a bit of color we added cranberries. More about that in a moment. The problem with our...Read more...

“There’s No Use Hidin’ It”

09/25/2023 07:13:25 PM

Sep25

Peter H. Grumbacher – Interim Rabbi

“There’s No Use Hidin’ It” Peter H. Grumbacher – Interim Rabbi Temple Beth El – Newark, Delaware Yom Kippur 5784 – September 25, 2023 ____________________ For those of you who’ve seen the movie Golda, you probably know that Helen Mirren sat for three hours every day to have the prostheses and makeup transform her into Golda Meir. And what a job they did! You’d never know it was Helen Mirren. On a smaller scale for sure, with...Read more...

“I’ve Been Asked To Speak About God”

09/24/2023 07:15:50 PM

Sep24

Peter H. Grumbacher, Interim Rabbi

“I’ve Been Asked To Speak About God” Kol Nidrei 5784 – September 24, 2023 Peter H. Grumbacher, Interim Rabbi Temple Beth El – Newark, Delaware ___________________ Many years ago, a mother dropped off her son for religious school. Mrs. Schleplowitz came bounding into my office, and said, “Why don’t you ever speak about God?” I looked at her and replied, “Well, good morning to you, too. And what are you talking about? She...Read more...

“And Sarah Laughed…And So Should We”

09/16/2023 07:15:03 PM

Sep16

Peter H. Grumbacher – Interim Rabbi

“And Sarah Laughed…And So Should We” Peter H. Grumbacher – Interim Rabbi Temple Beth El – Newark, Delaware First Morning Rosh Hashanah 5784 – September 16, 2023 __________________________ In my teenage years The Lovin’ Spoonful sang a song called, “Do You Believe in Magic.” Does anybody remember that song? Well, be that as it may, we have to ask the same question regarding the miracle of Sarah’s pregnancy and Abraham’s...Read more...

“The ‘Look,’ Or, How a Shabbat-Desecrating ‘Chasid’ Threw Me For a Loop”

09/08/2023 07:19:03 PM

Sep8

Rabbi Peter H. Grumbacher

E X P L A I N A N D P U T O N F U L L – F U N C T I O N A L T A L I T “The ‘Look,’ Or, How a Shabbat-Desecrating ‘Chasid’ Threw Me For a Loop” Rabbi Peter H. Grumbacher September 8, 2023 – Temple Beth El ______________________ So it was a very warm Saturday afternoon. I was driving back to Wilmington from one of my interim gigs in Virginia. I wanted a drink, and only a WaWa Diet Peach iced tea would do. Would I have to wait...Read more...

Tue, November 28 2023 15 Kislev 5784