The Great High Holiday Sermon Debate

Every year as Rosh Hashanah approaches, rabbis face a challenge almost as difficult as preparing the sermon itself:

What should we talk about?

Should the High Holiday pulpit address the headlines of the day: politics, Israel, antisemitism, elections, division and the state of the world?

Or should these precious moments be reserved for something deeper: faith, teshuvah, family, Jewish identity and the purpose of our lives?

So, in the spirit of the famous Latke versus Hamantaschen debate, I decided to debate the issue with the one person who argues with me most effectively:

Meet Rabbi Politic and Rabbi Purpose. Rabbi Politic Makes His Case

Let’s be realistic. People don’t walk into shul disconnected from the world. They are carrying the headlines with them.

Israel. Antisemitism. Elections. Crime. The economy. Political division. The future of America. People are worried, sometimes frightened and often angry.

Surely the rabbi has to say something!

Of course. The only problem is that half the congregation wants you to say one........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)