Rabbi Wendy Pein's Blog

Contrary to common misconceptions, Zionism is not solely about encouraging aliyah, or immigration to Israel. At its core, Zionism is the belief in the right of the Jewish people to establish and maintain a sovereign state in Israel without necessarily implying a requirement for all Jews to move there. This belief stems from a historical and spiritual connection to Zion, a biblical name for...Read more...

The following has been adapted from Rabbi Pein's sermon at Temple Israel on Friday night, March 10, 2023:

The conflict between the executive branch and the Supreme Court in Israel is a longstanding issue that has been ongoing for many years. At the heart of the conflict are the issues of judicial activism and the role of the Supreme Court in the Israeli political system.

The Israeli Supreme Court...Read more...

As antisemitic acts are increasing both in the United States and globally, it is imperative that we  recognize that  antisemitism is not just a part of our history but a very grim reality of our present.1 During the last week in October 2022, while Wednesday CJL classes were in session, Kanye West continued his antisemitic tirade on social media and during interviews, which included age-old stereotypes of Jews2. During...Read more...

One day after our Sunday CJL classes, I logged on to a webinar about modern anti-Semitism, and there was Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, a famous scholar and outspoken critic of anti-Semitism.  She has spoken out against Holocaust deniers, anti-Semitism and racism for as long as I can remember, and she continually seeks to make the world a safer place for Jews and all peoples.  Film producer Steven Spielberg helped...Read more...

Ahh, the beginnings of summer.  Long, warm days. Outdoor dining. Early evening walks in the neighborhood.  Spontaneous trips to the favorite local ice cream shop.

If, after you have registered your child(ren) for CJL (wink, wink), you find that you have some extra time this summer, here are some of my recommendations for summer reading: 

If the telling of the Passover story whets your appetite for more study,  please consider joining the course, “A Nosh of Judaism,” which will be taught by five rabbis from five different geographical locations including Rabbi Pein. Topics include Jewish Sacred Texts, Jewish Festivals, Jewish Lifecycle, Theology, and Jewish diversity.  This class will meet virtually over Zoom on Monday nights, 7:30 PM, beginning...Read more...

Join Rabbi Pein for “Nu? What’s New to Read, Watch or Listen to During this Pandemic?” on
Thursday, January 21st at 4 PM. Please register for the Zoom discussion here.

During the Covid-19 epidemic we have probably spent an abundant amount of time ingesting
various forms of media content. Just as there has been a proliferation of general media content, so
too there has been an increase of Jewish-themed content....Read more...

So, What Do We Do Now?

Now that the presidential election is over, there is much concern that the political process has resulted in significant antagonism and even hatred being expressed between opposing sides.  Jewish wisdom has much to say on this topic and provides clear guidance in such circumstances that we would do well to consider. In a straight-forward directive, the...Read more...

With so much fear about Covid-19 and uncertainty about the future, religious school may be one of the last items on most parents’ minds today.  However, the pervasive fear and uncertainty in our world makes religious school more valuable to our children than ever before.  

A Jewish education helps children forge a Jewish identity, and this identity allows...Read more...

During the quarantine, our lives have been turned upside down.  If we are fortunate to have remained healthy (and this qualifier is not to be taken for granted nor preclude us from acknowledging the severity of the pandemic and its’ devastating impact on others), our lives were initially consumed with staying informed about the pandemic, protecting our health and learning how to procure basics such as food without the risk of becoming...Read more...

It is not every day that we are called upon to voice our opinion about World Jewry … but we currently have this opportunity in voting for a slate to represent our views at the next World Zionist Congress! Once every 5 years, US Jewry votes to directly influence the future of the Israel Reform Movement! 

When you vote, you will be able to choose from over a dozen slates representing diverse political beliefs, religious...Read more...

On a beautiful summer evening, my family and I headed out to a Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat) service on the Long Island sound.  The Jewish musician Sheldon Low was co-leading the worship service.  Through Sheldon’s music and service leadership, what had been an ordinary Friday night was transformed into a beautiful and magical evening.  We were singing and humming Sheldon’s upbeat melodies to Jewish...Read more...

What would Thanksgiving be without the hearty meal and football on TV…While football on TV is a relatively recent Thanksgiving tradition, the meal and the thanks we offer to God on that day have deep roots within Jewish tradition.  In fact, more generally, food and prayer are deeply entwined throughout Jewish practice

Giving thanks for our food is an integral part of Judaism.  We recite perhaps  the best-known...Read more...

Did you know that our CJL Faculty continually engages in professional development outside of CJL hours?  This summer, Lane Chazdon, our Kitah Dalet (4th grade) and Hebrew resource teacher, participated in ten hours of training to become certified in Hebrew through Movement, a language acquisition strategy in which students learn Hebrew by hearing and responding to Hebrew commands. Ariela Wehrle, our Hebrew...Read more...

               I was pleased to be one of over 18,000 supporters of Israel who attended AIPAC’s National Conference, March 3-6, in Washington, DC. It was amazing to see both Jews and non-Jews from all across the political spectrum unite in their support for the state of Israel.  Highlights from the Conference included speeches by U.N Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Vice President...Read more...