The bar mitzvah drash of Moishe Ben Imber Safdar

At the bar mitzvah of a youth in Judaism, they are expected to give a short speech (a “drash”) about the Torah portion appropriate to that week.  This is the one my son delivered at his bar mitzvah on June 23, 2018. In my Torah portion Chukat, the Israelites are demanding water to survive in…

Read More

Naftali (Naphtali) Herz Imber

Way back in my wife’s family tree is a hilariously eccentric relative named Naftali Herz Imber (Wikipedia). He’s credited with having written the words to the Israeli National Anthem, “Hatikvah”. Recently I hired local historian Paula Freedman to dig up some information on him and his intersection with Sarah’s synagogue, Temple Emanu-el. I’m publishing all…

Read More