Category: Science and Health

It’s been 14 years since Rabbi AdaM Schaffer arrived at HaMakom (né, Temple Aliyah) to become director of the Jewish Learning Cooperative, the religious school. An educator for most of his adult life, the Washington, D.C. area native was asked if he ever considered becoming a full-time teacher. “We know the word rabbi/rav comes from […]

Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA) held its annual David Frank Memorial Golf Classic at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades this past summer. During the gathering, held July 28, 120 philanthropists from greater Los Angeles spent a day with corporate executives at one of the most iconic golf courses in the country, while raising funds […]

Elie Wiesel describes Moses as “the loneliest” character in the Bible. Moses is the ruler of an unruly bunch of former slaves, as well as a prophet and lawgiver, and, for a short time, the High Priest. As Wiesel puts it, Moses “embodies the very concept of leadership, with its collective triumphs and personal disillusionments.” […]

It was impossible to distinguish who was happier or prouder: The 10 elderly Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH) residents celebrating their bar and bat mitzvahs, or LAJH CEO and President Dale Surowitz. The men and women between the ages of 76 and 98 were glowing as Surowitz told them, “What you have accomplished is absolutely […]

The memorial service for Charlie Kirk took place this Sunday; chances are the only things you know about it are that Erika Kirk gave a graceful, heartfelt speech; Tucker Carlson blew a dogwhistle; and President Trump joked-not-joked that he genuinely hates his political opponents. I watched the entire event, and it struck me as a […]

Asking for forgiveness may be mandated by our tradition at this time of year, and if we do it right, it’s one of the toughest things we’re called to do. Who wants to be reminded that they messed up, that they hurt someone, that they must humble themselves and ask for forgiveness? Even the Almighty […]

In the firestorm over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from his late-night talk show, which has turned him into a free speech martyr, virtually everyone is ignoring Kimmel’s approach to speech itself. Kimmel was suspended by ABC after blowback from his comments suggesting that the accused shooter of Charlie Kirk was actually “MAGA” rather than a leftist […]

For many of us these are dark days. War in Gaza and in Ukraine, climate change, the tragic Los Angeles fires, and domestic political turmoil conspired to turn the zeitgeist into a foul wind. In my medical practice, I see the challenges of disease and debility faced by so many. In such times hope takes […]

It is hard to be an optimist these days. Wars rage without resolution, terrorism strikes without warning, political discourse grows increasingly toxic, and natural disasters remind us of our fragility. In such a climate, hope can feel like naïve denial, and faith in a better future can seem more like wishful thinking than rational conviction. […]

  Arbitrariness Shabbat Thought Nitzavim 2025 (adapted from previous versions) This week’s Torah portion, Nitzavim (“Stand up and be counted”), contains stark language. Choose – life or death, blessing or curse. In my words, choose the laws of the moral and spiritual order or flout them. Blessing if you align yourself, catastrophe if you don’t. […]