Virtual Lessons with Rabbi Konigsburg

Sunday, May 16, 2021: I Begin At Te End

Friday, May 14, 2021: Fighting In The Middle East

Thursday, May 13, 2021: The Commandments Are In Our Blood

Wednesday, May 12, 2021: The Sum of its Parts

Tuesday, May 11, 2021: God in the Desert

Monday, May 10, 2021: Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Friday, May 7, 2021: The Goal of Living

Thursday, May 6, 2021: The Eternity of Our People

Wednesday, May 5, 2021: The Value of A Man

Tuesday, May the 4th, 2021: 49 Years A Slave Is Enough

Monday, May 3, 2021: How Does Judaism See Racism?

Sunday, May 2, 2021: Grateful For A Bit of Barley

Friday, April 30, 2021: The Tragedy at Meron

Thursday, April 29, 2021: Something Is Better Than Nothing

Wednesday, April 28, 2021: A Calendar of Life & Death

Tuesday, April 27, 2021: The Jewish Countdown

Monday, April 26, 2021: Forbidden Spaces

Sunday, April 25, 2021: What Is An Atzeret?

Friday, April 23, 2021: Permission To Start Over

Thursday, April 22, 2021: Gratitude, Part 5

Wednesday, April 21, 2021: Gratitude, Part 4

Tuesday, April 20, 2021: Gratitude, Part 3

Monday, April 19, 2021: Gratitude, Part 2

Sunday, April 18, 2021: Gratitude, Part 1

Friday, April 16, 2021: Miracles and Reality

Thursday, April 15, 2021: Land of Miracles

Wednesday, April 14, 2021: Yom HaZikaron

Tuesday, April 13, 2021: The Jewish State

Monday, April 12, 2021: The Fire of Tradition

Sunday, April 11, 2021: A Torah Of Kindness

Friday, April 9, 2021: Justice For All

Thursday, April 8, 2021: Taking The Past Into The Future

Wednesday, April 7, 2021: Jewish Resistance

Tuesday, April 6, 2021: We Remember Them

Monday, April 5, 2021: Important Books For Your Bookshelf

Friday, April 2, 2021: The Strange Case For Strangers

Thursday, April 1, 2021: Celebrating Seven Days of Pesach

Wednesday, March 31, 2021: Leaving Egypt

Tuesday, March 30, 2021: Hang On A Bit Longer

Friday, March 26, 2021: Pesach Is Here

Thursday, March 25, 2021: This Is Us

Wednesday, March 24, 2021: As Different As Night & Day

Tuesday, March 23, 2021: The Strange Case of First Born Fasting

Monday, March 22, 2021: Do You Know Beans

Sunday, March 21, 2021: Removal of the Last Crumbs

Friday, March 19, 2021: Removing Hametz

Thursday, March 18, 2021: Have No Fear That Pesach Is Here

Wednesday, March 17, 2021: Narrow Thinking

Tuesday, March 16, 2021: Five-Hundred, Twenty-Five Thousand, Six-Hundred Minutes

Monday, March 15, 2021: Preparing Our Homes for Pesach

Sunday, March 14, 2021: Making This Night Different

Friday, March 12, 2021: Vaccinate Now

Thursday, March 11, 2021: The Two New Year Celebrations

Wednesday, March 10, 2021: Making Prayer Real

Tuesday, March 9, 2021: What Torah Means To Us

Monday, March 8, 2021: I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together

Sunday, March 7, 2021: Psalm 145 Revealed

Friday, March 5, 2021: The Enigma of Psalm 145

Thursday, March 4, 2021: Singing Psalms to God

Wednesday, March 3, 2021: Standing In The Doorway

Tuesday, March 2, 2021: The Meaning of Soul

Monday, March 1, 2021: The Wonder of Our Body Working

Sunday, February 28, 2021: The Place Where Prayer Begins

Friday, February 26, 2021: Biblican Soap Opera

Thursday, February 25, 2021: Make Some Noise

Wednesday, February 24, 2021: God & Esther

Tuesday, February 23, 2021: Inclusive Blessings

Monday, February 22, 2021: Get Up and Get Dressed

Friday, February 19, 2021: We Open Our Eyes

Thursday, February 18, 2021: Our Mind Awakens

Monday, February 15, 2021: Morning Routine

Friday, February 12, 2021: The End Is The Beginning

Thursday, February 11, 2021: Standing for the Amidah

Wednesday, February 10, 2021: Three Major Jewish Concepts

Tuesday, February 9, 2021: The Two Central Prayers of Judaism

Monday, February 8, 2021: What Is Missing From Prayer?

Sunday, February 7, 2021: Eternal Light, Eternal Life

Friday, February 5, 2021: Ends & Means

Thursday, February 4, 2021: Slavery & Torah

Wednesday, February 3, 2021: Sitting Shiva

Tuesday, February 2, 2021: Seasons of Friendship

Monday, February 1, 2021: Singing In Praise of God

Sunday, January 31, 2021: Time After Time

Friday, January 29, 2021: Our Problem With Prayer

Thursday, January 28, 2021: Tu B'Shevat is Here

Wednesday, January 27, 2021: The Blessing of What We Already Have

Tuesday, January 26, 2021: Choosing to Change

Monday, January 25, 2021: The Surprise of A Miracle

Sunday, January 24, 2021: The Holiday For Trees

Friday, January 22, 2021: Counting The Days Of Our Years

Thursday, January 21, 2021: Timing Is Everything

Wednesday, January 20, 2021: Binding Ourselves to God

Tuesday, January 19, 2021: Wisdom & Silence

Monday, January 18, 2021: It Is So Hard To Grow

Sunday, January 17, 2021: Mercy Mercy Me

Friday, January 15, 2021: Good Government

Thursday, January 14, 2021: Ancient & Modern Idolatry

Wednesday, January 13, 2021: Battle Of The Gods

Tuesday, January 12, 2021: Being Different Makes All The Difference

Monday, January 11, 2021: We Are More Than We Know

Sunday, January 10, 2021: 300 Days Of Isolation

Friday, January 8, 2021: Spiritual Awakening

Thursday, January 7, 2021: Insurrection

Wednesday, January 6, 2021: Turn Aside & Find God

Tuesday, January 5, 2021: Modern Hebrew

Monday, January 4, 2021: God Appears In History

Sunday, January 3, 2021: Don't Look To The Stars

Friday, January 1, 2021: The Blessings of 2020

Thursday, December 31, 2020: Jewish Time

Wednesday, December 30, 2020: Our Eternal Commitment

Tuesday, December 29, 2020: Time For Brothers To Act Like Brothers

Monday, December 28, 2020: The Differences We All Have In Common

Sunday, December 27, 2020: Of Darkness & Light

Friday, December 25, 2020: A Torah of Loving Kindness

Thursday, December 24, 2020: You Should Live So Long

Wednesday, December 23, 2020: Rivalries, Then & Now

Tuesday, December 22, 2020: Who Is Responsible?

Monday, December 21, 2020: Self Worth

Sunday, December 20, 2020: This Too Shall Pass

Friday, December 18, 2020: Truth Can't Be Divided

Thursday, December 17, 2020: Spreading The Light

Wednesday, December 16, 2020: Life At A Crossroad

Tuesday, December 15, 2020: Why Hanukkah? Part 4

Monday, December 14, 2020: Why Hanukkah? Part 3

Sunday, December 13, 2020: Why Hanukkah? Part 2

Friday, December 11, 2020: Why Hanukkah? Part 1

Thursday, December 10, 2020: Guarding The Flame

Wednesday, December 9, 2020: Light In The Darkness

Tuesday, December 8, 2020: Repeating The Sins Of His Parents

Monday, December 7, 2020: What's Next?

Sunday, December 6, 2020: December 5, Part 3

Friday, December 4, 2020: December 5, Part 2

Thursday, December 3, 2020: December 5, Part 1

Wednesday, December 2, 2020: For The Love Of God

Tuesday, December 1, 2020: What Does He Mean By That?

Monday, November 30, 2020: Time For A Change

Sunday, November 29, 2020: What Do You Know?

Friday, November 27, 2020: Peace Without Fear

Thursday, November 26, 2020: What Is True Greatness?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 25, 2020: Looking For Rewards In All The Wrong Places

Tuesday, November 24, 2020: Audacious Before God

Monday, November 23, 2020: How To Be Deeply Thankful

Sunday, November 22, 2020: A Tale of Two Brothers

Friday, November 20, 2020: Our Problems & Hidden Blessings

Thursday, November 19, 2020: Hope for Peace

Wednesday, November 18, 2020: Stranger Blessings

Tuesday, November 17, 2020: Why We Need Religion

Monday, November 16, 2020: Being Happy

Sunday, November 15, 2020: What to Look For In A Spouse

Friday, November 13, 2020: Veterans Day

Thursday, November 12, 2020: To Live A Noble Life

Wednesday, November 11, 2020: Abraham & David

Tuesday, November 10, 2020: Why We Remember Kristaalnacht

Monday, November 9, 2020: Our Diverse World

Sunday, November 8, 2020: The Blessing of Disagreement

Friday, November 6, 2020: A God Who Remembers

Thursday, November 5, 2020: Is God Compassionate?

Wednesday, November 4, 2020: The Limits of Prayer

Tuesday, November 3, 2020: The Day After Tomorrow

Monday, November 2, 2020: Religion & Politics

Sunday, November 1, 2020: Adon Olam

Friday, October 30, 2020: Doubting God

Thursday, October 29, 2020: Just The Facts Please

Wednesday, October 28, 2020: The Power of Pluralism

Tuesday, October 27, 2020: Protecting Our Votes

Monday, October 26, 2020: Where Are We Going

Sunday, October 25, 2020: Two Men & Two Different Stories

Friday, October 23, 2020: This Is Going To Take Time

Thursday, October 22, 2020: Asking Difficult Questions

Wednesday, October 21, 2020: How Do We Judge Noah

Tuesday, October 20, 2020: Naming Rights

Monday, October 19, 2020: Finding Our Faith

Sunday, October 18, 2020: Failure Can Be An Option

Friday, October 16, 2020: Tradition & Change

Thursday, October 15, 2020: Speak My Name

Wednesday, October 14, 2020: The Importance of Covenant

Tuesday, October 13, 2020: Voting Takes Preparation

Monday, October 12, 2020: Revelation & Tradition

Friday, October 9, 2020: Can You Skip Yom Kippur?

Thursday, October 8, 2020: God's Embrace

Wednesday, October 7, 2020: Emulating God

Tuesday, October 6, 2020: Jewish Law in A Pandemic

Monday, October 5, 2020: Defining Freedom

Friday, October 2, 2020: Day 200

Thursday, October 1, 2020: A Holiday of Real Joy

Wednesday, September 30, 2020: Freedom and Joy

Tuesday, September 29, 2020: What Kind of A Future Will We Choose

Sunday, September 27, 2020: Voting Engagement, Part 9-10

Friday, September 25, 2020: Voting Engagement, Part 7-8

Thursday, September 24, 2020: Voting Engagement, Part 6

Wednesday, September 23, 2020: Voting Engagement, Part 5

Tuesday, September 22, 2020: Voting Engagement, Part 3-4

Monday, September 21, 2020: 10 Day of Voting Engagement, Part 1-2

Friday, September 18, 2020: Together We Will Shine

Thursday, September 17, 2020: Nothing Here

Wednesday, September 16, 2020: Bridging Heaven and Earth

Tuesday, September 15, 2020: Nothing is Something

Monday, September 14, 2020: Window To The Soul

Sunday, September 13, 2020: Selichot

Friday, September 11, 2020: Jewish Time & Its Value

Thursday, September 10, 2020: Opening the Blockage

Wednesday, September 9, 2020: Building A Secure Foundation

Tuesday, September 8, 2020: Self Assessment

Monday, September 7, 2020: Restoring Balance to The Universe

Sunday, September 6, 2020: To Mean What We Say

Friday, September 4, 2020: Jewish Confessions

Thursday, September 3, 2020: Together We Can Find Our Forgiveness

Wednesday, September 2, 2020: Unfinished Art & Life

Tuesday, September 1, 2020: Introspection by Meditation

Monday, August 31, 2020: The Master Key

Sunday, August 30, 2020: The Delusions of Desire

Friday, August 28, 2020: Which Wolf Will Win

Thursday, August 27, 2020: Introspection

Wednesday, August 26, 2020: Tearing Our Walls DOwn

Tuesday, August 25, 2020: Spiritual Responsibility

Monday, August 24, 2020: Finding Our Home

Sunday, August 23, 2020: Looking For Forgiveness In All The Wrong Places

Friday, August 21, 2020: Now Is The Time

Thursday, August 20, 2020: This Is Real

Wednesday, August 19, 2020: Legacy

Tuesday, August 18, 2020: Chasing Justice

Monday, August 17, 2020: Judging Justly

Sunday, August 16, 2020: There Are No Good Old Days

Friday, August 14, 2020: A Blessing For Everything

Thursday, August 13, 2020: Stick to Torah & Cleave to God

Wedneday, August 12, 2020: I Can Make A Difference

Tuesday, August 11, 2020: Blessings and Curses

Monday, August 10, 2020: Learning From Everything In Life

Sunday, August 9, 2020: Doing Without

Friday, August 7, 2020: Life As A Paradox

Thursday, August 6, 2020: When Is It Enough?

Tuesday, August 4, 2020: Meaning Is No Accident

Monday, July 3, 2020: The Power of One God

Sunday, August 2, 2020: All Mitzvot Matter

Friday, July 31, 2020: Never Down and Out

Thursday, July 30, 2020: From Sadness to Hope

Wednesday, July 29, 2020: Thou Shalt Not Feud

Tuesday, July 28, 2020: A Dark Day Because of Our Dark Sins

Monday, July 27, 2020: The Dark Events of the Month of Av

Sunday, July 26, 2020: Chosen to Love

Friday, July 24, 2020: Teaching Torah

Thursday, July 23, 2020: Writing & Rewriting History

Wednesday, July 22, 2020: Comfort in The Darkness

Tuesday, July 21, 2020: Our Uncertain Future

Monday, July 20, 2020: Moses's Words and My Words

Sunday, July 19, 2020: Murder and Refuge

Friday, July 17, 2020: Looking Back Before Moving Forward

*LESSON 100*

Thursday, July 16, 2020: Changing What The Torah Says

Wednesday, July 15, 2020: Sins Old & New

Tuesday, July 14, 2020: Word Power

Monday, July 13, 2020: The Doorstep of Their Destiny

Sunday, July 12, 2020: Trial by Tears

Friday, July 10, 2020: Our Spiritual Calendar

Thursday, July 9, 2020: Handing Over Power

Wednesday, July 8, 2020: Sweeter Than Honey

Tuesday, July 7, 2020: No Sons, No Justice

Monday, July 6, 2020: Only Shabbat Shalom

Sunday, July 5, 2020: Is This Justice:

Friday, July 3, 2020: What We Don't Know

Thursday, July 2, 2020: Suffering For A Cure

Wednesday, July 1, 2020: Reason & Faith

Tuesday, June 30, 2020: Learning From The Young

Monday, June 29, 2020: Leaders Old & New

Sunday, June 28, 2020: From Darkness to Light

Friday, June 26, 2020: Humility & Reconciliation

Thursday, June 25, 2020: Judaism & Arguments

Wednesday, June 24, 2020: Visiting the Sick

Tuesday, June 23, 2020: Equal but Different

Monday, June 22, 2020: For The Sake of Heaven

Sunday, June 21, 2020: The Song In Our Soul

Friday, June 19, 2020: Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow

Thursday, June 18, 2020: Stretching Out

Wednesday, June 17, 2020: Standing Together

Tuesday, June 16, 2020: When The Truth is Found To Be Lies

Monday, June 15, 2020: A Story About A Story

Friday, June 12, 2020: Are We There Yet?

Thursday, June 11, 2020: To See The World

Wednesday, June 10, 2020: The Miracles of Life

Tuesday, June 9, 2020: Details, Details

Monday, June 8, 2020: The Pursuit of Justice

Sunday, June 7, 2020: Black Lives Matter

Friday, June 5, 2020: May God Bless Us

Thursday, June 4, 2020: Life & Prayer

Wednesday, June 3, 2020: Dystopian Freedom

Tuesday, June 2, 2020: All People Are Created Equal

Monday, June 1, 1010: Open and Closed

Sunday, May 31, 2020: Who Will Open and Who Will Remain Closed

Thursday, May 28, 2020: The Kindness of Ruth

Wednesday, May 27, 2020: The Essence of Torah

Tuesday, May 26, 2020: Something from Nothing

Monday, May 25, 2020: The Difficulty is in The Details

Memorial Day 2020

Sunday, May 24, 2020: In Memory of The Fallen

Friday, May 22, 2020: Search Me

Thursday, May 21, 2020: Finding Shavuot

Wednesday, May 20, 2020: The Sad and The Happy

Tuesday, May 19, 2020: Love and Responsibility

Monday, May 18, 2020: The New Reality

*EPISODE 50*

Sunday, May 17, 2020: For Ourselves and Everyone Else

Friday, May 15, 2020: Decisions Decisions

Thursday, May 14, 2020: All Is Not Lost

Wednesday, May 13, 2020: The Wise Use of Time

Tuesday, May 12, 2020: Lag B'Omer

Monday, May 11, 2020: The Simple Power of Kindness

Sunday, May 10, 2020: Responsibility

Friday, May 8, 2020: In Times of Crisis

Thursday, May 7, 2020: The Risk Factor

Wednesday, May 6, 2020: Saving Lives

Tuesday, May 5, 2020: Living Legacy

Monday, May 4, 2020: Good, Bad or Holy

Sunday, May 3, 2020: Love Is All You Need

Friday, May 1, 2020: Love Your Neighbor

Thursday, April 30, 2020: Israel As Our Home

Wednesday, April 29, 2020: Happy 72nd Birthday, Israel

Tuesday, April 28, 2020: Sacred Space and Sacred Relationships

Monday, April 27, 2020: Count On Me

Sunday, April 26, 2020: Time Is On My Side

Friday, April 24, 2020: We Are The World

Thursday, April 23, 2020: Going Viral

Wednesday, April 22, 2020: Little Germs, Great Concerns

Bad Things, And Bad People

It is getting really hard not to be angry at people who, during this crisis, are taking advantage of the situation for personal gain. Andres Spokoiny recently noted that even though everyone is wearing masks, now is the time the masks come off and this is a time when we see people for who they truly are. Sometimes, I don't like the people I am seeing.

I hear about states that purchase critically needed healthcare supplies only to find out that the source is bogus. Or that the person is selling materials that are substandard or useless. Or that there are companies that are charging outrageous prices for the same things that were once inexpensive in the marketplace. Capitalism at its ugliest.

I keep hearing about people spreading false news about what people should be doing in this health crisis, about how it is not a crisis, about how Coronavirus is just another political stunt.

I keep hearing about people who are not telling the truth about what scientists and doctors are saying and who say that what scientists and doctors are really saying is not the truth.

I should not be surprised that there are people who wish to make money off a crisis. That there are people who will always do the opposite of what they are supposed to be doing. That there are so-called leaders who do what is in their own best interests and not what is in the interests of those they are leading – and some of these so-called leaders are clergy.

I wonder how it is possible for some people to be so self-centered and so cold hearted that they think that every moment is an opportunity to make money and promote themselves when so many others are suffering and sacrificing.

I am not a fool who thinks that everyone is altruistic, charitable, loving, caring and kind. I know most people are giving, and I know some people are not. In my life, I have been personally affected by those who seek to scam me and my family, and I know what I need to do and what I have done to protect myself and my family from them. It hurts me to know that I can’t be as kind and loving as I wish to be for fear of being hurt - physically, economically, and/or emotionally. As the great sage Hillel said in the Talmud, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” I have to take care of myself. I cannot risk my life to save another. I have responsibilities for my own health and wellbeing. But this responsibility does not allow me to enrich myself at another’s expense. Hillel goes on to say, “but if I am only for myself, what am I?” We all can do something to ease the suffering of others. We can make a donation, make a phone call, we can do what we can to show our support for those on the front lines of this crisis.

I don’t want to be angry at people who think that they are getting away with these ugly and illegal acts during this crisis. They think that people don’t notice; they think that there is no time for someone to call them to account. They think that they can turn this crisis into personal gain without any accountability. I find that I am hoping they are wrong. In this time of public shaming, and “Me Too”, that there will be, in the end, exposure, anger and maybe some justice that they will have to face. I would like to tell those who think that they are getting away with their outrageous behavior that there will come a time of reckoning. There will come a time they will have to pay the price for their actions.

And yet, as frustrating as it is to see so many people trying so hard to delude others, to send them astray from where they need to be, who give others false information and fake news to attain their own political or financial advantage, I refuse to give up hope that things will eventually work out. That those who try to lead us astray will themselves be frustrated; that those who are honest and faithful, will find good people to follow their lead and bring about good outcomes in the areas of health care and the nation’s economy and that we will find ourselves in a country, at the end of all of this, where people are more caring, generous, understanding and compassionate. And that those who are not, will find themselves at the far margins of civilization.

Elijah the prophet gave up hope in the people and God condemned him to wander the earth forever to see the good things that people do; how they are kind to each other and faithful to God.

I have said many times that I don’t believe in magical thinking. I have a sign in my office that reads, “I don’t believe in miracles*” the asterisk leads to the small print that says, “*I only rely on them”.

I plan to work every day to make this world safe, healthy, just and kind. If you like security, health, justice, and kindness, I hope you will help in this work and every day try and leave the world a little bit more of any or all of these qualities. Maybe we will have to rely on a miracle, maybe not. Maybe if we all work together, we will be the miracle.