Rabbi’s Column
RTPV April 2026
We look around as spring’s blooms begin to emerge, as the darkness of war submerges so many communities, as the world is topsy-turvy in a way we have not experienced, as we will soon reenact redemption through our Seders and hope Elijah finally comes. At this moment in time, if you were to create the program for a rabbinic conference, what would you include?
I recently returned from the Central Conference of American Rabbis Conference in San Francisco. The connecting part was spending time with our daughter who lives there and to be at the conference with our other daughter who is a colleague, as well as to see friends and classmates and meet others.
As for how we spent our time, there was powerful worship including one service led by our Israeli colleagues. There were field trips to local Jewish and secular institutions that are making a difference. I went to the soon-to-be-opened Courage Museum (www.couragemuseum.org) whose mission “challenges visitors to rethink how violence and disconnection take root and to imagine new possibilities for courage, healing, and belonging.” I’m happy to talk to you about it in more detail.
The main program sessions were about How we Future, Antisemitism, The Changing Landscape of Jewish Identity, Israel, Democracy and the Jewish Community. I learned, wrestled and hopefully grew so that I can import my experience back to you.
I am interested: are those areas those in which you think American rabbis today need to engage?
Wishing you a Happy Passover!