It is customary to study Pirke Avot (Portions of our Fathers), which is a book contained in the Mishneh, part of Jewish oral tradition, during this period.

One of my favorite sayings from the book–also lyrics from a song I learned while a camper at URJ Greene Family Camp in Bruceville, Texas, many years ago–is a quote from Rabbi Hillel: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And, if not now, when?” (Avot 1:14).

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Last year, we included in our UHC community seder an optional reading from Rabbi Shoshana Cohen of the Shalom Hartman Center in Jerusalem. She wrote the following passage about how the broken matzah that we eat during the Passover seder teaches us to work toward redemption in real time.

I share it with you in the hope that even in the midst of war, we continue to seek meaning in doing mitzvahs and spreading the Eternal Flame, even at times of duress.

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The prospect of an attack on Iran presents a complex ethical dilemma within Judaism, challenging the tension between the imperative to defend life and the prohibition against unjustified bloodshed.

While Jewish law prioritizes the preservation of life and permits pre-emptive, self-defensive actions against imminent threats, it also strongly emphasizes pursuing peace, proportionality, and avoiding unnecessary destruction.

The post In time of war, <em>pikuach nefesh</em> compels us to ask: Can we justify our actions morally? appeared first on United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute.

That is, is this tree mature enough, strong enough, to bear fruit from which we must dedicate a portion to others?

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Across different faiths and cultures, this season is the time when we remember powerful acts of divine intervention, from the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days during Hanukkah to the Christian belief in the miraculous birth of Jesus.

These ancient stories serve as anchors, reminding us of the extraordinary ways the divine intersects with the ordinary world.

But miracles are not just events locked in history books. They happen every day, often hiding in plain sight, waiting for us to open our eyes and our hearts to recognize them.

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Our synagogues are sometimes called a mikdash me’at, or a “miniature Temple.”

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Rosh Hashanah services will follow at 10 a.m. Monday.

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I’m looking forward to returning to Terre Haute to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Days of Awe, and the coming year, 5786, with the United Hebrew Congregation community!

We have entered the Hebrew month of Elul, the month during which tradition teaches us to begin hearing the call of the shofar and to prepare for the upcoming High Holy Days (the Days of Awe) of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

During this month of preparation, we can take concrete actions to prepare. And our preparation goes beyond planning a menu for Rosh Hashanah dinner and finding a good recipe for honey cake (though I encourage you to do that as well, and please share if you have a good one!). Preparation means we can begin in earnest a process called heshbon hanefesh -- an accounting of our souls.

The post Check, please! It’s the season for <em>heshbon hanefesh</em> — an accounting of our souls appeared first on United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute.

Our first service will take place at at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, August 9, 2025, via Zoom.

Whether Havdalah is familiar to you or brand new, you are warmly invited to join this reflective, musical, and uplifting 30-minute gathering.

The post Spice up your Shabbat schedule with UHC’s new, twice-monthly Havdalah service appeared first on United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute.

No, I’m not talking about Baywatch. My favorite show was Northern Exposure.

The show is a basic fish-out-of-water tale. The main character is a Jewish New York doctor who upon completion of his medical training is set to begin a carefully planned career that would include the location of his practice, his area of expertise and even his “choice” Jewish fiance.

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