Congregation Beth Israel

Earlier this month, we blessed Mimi Goldschmidt, Ph.D., on her 100th birthday. At Congregation Beth Israel in the Gordon Chapel, surrounded by family and many congregants, it was an honor to acknowledge Mimi’s wisdom and deeds. For decades, Mimi worked in the field of biology in distinguished roles. Her biography and awards are searchable on the internet. But at Congregation...

Earlier this week, I drove to Hobby Airport to pick up my daughter and two grandchildren. Excited and ready, I arrived much sooner than I needed to be there, but I was able to find a great parking spot and a seat right in front of baggage claim 6. My timing was impeccable as I tracked their landing and arrival. But after many travelers came and went with their family and lug...

What do you want me to say? It can’t get worse? It’s going to get better? If life imitates art, then the times we’re living in are imitating this week’s Torah portion. In Sh’lach l’cha, messengers were challenged to scout out the Promised Land and report back to the Israelites what they found there. All but two of the scouts came back and said, “The country that we ...

I used to write about this week’s Torah portion in glowing terms, especially Moses’ short and alliterative prayer to heal his sister Miriam’s scaly affliction: “El na r’fah na lah,” God, pray heal her! From the Torah’s account it was quite effective, too. Would that all our prayers were as short and effective.

But after years of rising antisemitism in our time—followi...