We Make Our Own Community

By Rabbi David Eliezrie
Published on May 1, 2003

He came into my office clutching an old picture of a rabbi with a long, flowing beard. He was in his late 60s and clearly in a hurry

A Letter to Tom Friedman

By Rabbi David Eliezrie
Published on March 14, 2002

Dear Tom,

I heard you had a great trip to Saudi Arabia. In the privacy of their homes people removed their veils and expressed their true feelings. Even the crown prince, the guy who really runs Saudi Arabia, spent some time with you.

Is There Truth in Archaeology?

By Rabbi David Eliezrie
Published on April 19, 2001

Pack up your Passover dishes for good. The Exodus, according to some modern university scholars and liberal rabbis, never really happened. That's what the Los Angeles Times told us in great detail last week in a long article published at the end of the holiday. But the piece, while raising some important questions, skirts some of the most fundamental issues.

Together to Israel

By Rabbi David Eliezrie
Published on February 1, 2001

I had been living vicariously for three months. First there were the attacks on the High Holy Days, the desecration of Joseph's Tomb. A few days later, Israeli hikers were stranded under fire for hours near Schem-Nablus. The Internet had brought the daily conflict straight to my office: bus bombs, daily shootings in Jerusalem, assault on holy sites. I felt that I could no longer sit so far away in comfortable California, feeling secure and well-protected. I felt that I must go to Israel and share the fate of my brothers and sisters who were, and still are, facing one of the greatest challenges of the past 50 years.

“Public Schools Are Today’s Door to Assimilation”

By Rabbi David Eliezrie
Published on October 26, 2000

The Jewish community, along with the rest of the citizens of California, have a chance to change the educational destiny of the their children in the upcoming election. Appearing on the ballot is a voucher initiative that will enable parents to choose the school that best fits the needs of their children.

It’s Time to Talk

By Rabbi David Eliezrie
Published on October 2, 1997

It's High Holiday speech season. Rabbis prep, call each other withideas, exchange jokes, insights, and witty stories. They ponder thegreat issues of the day and get ready for prime-time talking in therabbinical world. Synagogues may not be full throughout the year, butcome Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, there is hardly an empty pew. Thisyear, attendance will be a bit higher, as Yom Kippur falls on aweekend.