Posts Tagged: Rabbi Pini Dunner
Parshat Massei: Every Step Has a Purpose — Even Ones We Think Are Detours
One of the most fascinating figures in medieval history is Marco Polo. Born into a Venetian merchant family, in 1271 he set out with his...
A Modern Lesson From the Torah: Stand Up, Be Proud, and Be Counted
Tucked into the flatlands of Northern California, somewhere between the political corridors of Sacramento and the tech utopia of San Francisco and the Bay Area,...
Responding With Hope After This Week’s Devastating News
The devastating news out of Washington, DC, on Wednesday night was both shocking and heartbreaking. Two young Israeli Embassy staff members -- Yaron Lischinsky and...
The Sukkah Reminds Us That the Jewish People Will Always Rise Again
If you’ve ever traveled through the countryside in the UK or across Europe, you’ve probably come across the hauntingly beautiful ruins of medieval castles. These...
Yom Kippur Forces Us to Look Within; Will We Do That This Year?
Throughout history, physical stature has often shaped people's perceptions of leadership. The belief that taller individuals are more commanding or "presidential" has long influenced how...
Joy and Community Are Essential to Jewish Fulfillment — Even in the Darkest of Times
In his evocative 1964 book, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, C.S. Lewis used a series of fictional letters to a friend to explore various aspects...
The Torah Requires Us to Help the Poor and Needy, But Also Take Personal Accountability
“The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.” This quote from...
‘No Man Lives By Bread Alone’ — The Pursuit of Material Success Also Needs Spirituality
The renowned investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton, who created the Templeton Growth Fund and became one of the wealthiest men in the world, was...
The Torah Tells Us We Must Stay Positive to Persevere Through Hard Times
I heard an unattributed quote some years ago: “Complaining is like bad breath – you notice it when it comes out of someone else’s mouth,...
Yizkor: We Should Remember the Best Version of Our Loved Ones
In the Ashkenazi tradition, the Yizkor service stands out as an emotional highlight of each festival. On specially designated days, those who have lost parents,...
Israel and the Palestinians Can Find Peace; Here Is How
As the war in Gaza against Hamas rages on, and as we all recoil from the explosion of antisemitism and hate crimes against Jews and...
My Reflections After 36 Hours in Israel
Last Sunday, our community in Beverly Hills mourned the passing of an exceptional figure. Born in Romania in 1927, Ernie Goldberger, a true “elder statesman”...
Remembering a Rosh Hashanah Amid the Holocaust; Could Today Be Different?
Charles Ticho of Hackensack, New Jersey, died last year at the age of 95, and inadvertently had a hand in founding the Israeli film industry. In...
Jewish Holidays Connect Us to Our Past, Our Grandparents, and Our Loved Ones
“Hearts & Minds II: An Original Look at Jewish Festivals & Significant Jewish Dates” by Pini Dunner (Otzrot, 2023) Rabbi Pini Dunner’s new collection of articles...
