“The Bible offers two models of salvation,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, “the Exodus and Purim. Judaism’s approach to history assumes that as the eras unfold divine intervention becomes less prominent and human deeds become more…

“Few know that a full third of the Book of Exodus is about the minute details of building the Tabernacle,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “I think that it is to teach us that the grandest…

“To stand against the crowd requires courage,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflecting on the impeachment trial and this week’s parasha. “Moral courage is the human ingredient that is most difficult to bring out of ourselves.…

“Few of us take the commandment mandating Shabbat observance seriously or even realize that it’s one of the Ten Commandments,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “Freeing up time is why God gave us Shabbat. Use it…

Soon after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they were attacked by the Amalekites. Throughout the battle, “Moses raised his hands and kept them steady until sunset — so the people would see their leader…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects on the stress of the past four years and his emotional reaction to the inauguration of President Joe Biden. “As I watched, I felt the heaviness lifting. The sadness began to…

In this week’s parasha, the Torah says that a frog — written in the singular — started the surge that covered Egypt. Rabbis Elazar and Akiva argue: were the other frogs already there, waiting to…

“Democracy is hard. It requires constant and loving cultivation,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “May it be that one day we will look back upon these days and conclude that the last four years were an…

“It is not for human beings to predict the future. Only God knows what will happen tomorrow,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch on New Year’s Day. “Jewish tradition is emphatic: the future is not some static…

“I love when Christmas falls on Shabbat,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “It gives me an opportunity to remind myself that Judaism is both universal and particular: that we unite with the world in fellowship —…

In this week’s parasha, we learn that “not only does Joseph constantly dream big dreams, he also has a unique capacity to interpret dreams,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “The Talmud contains this amazing thought: ‘Dreams…

This week’s parasha reminds us that it can all change in the blink of an eye, says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “As you gaze into the lights of the menorah, feel the hope of renewal: that…

“Sometimes, prevailing is just enduring,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “That is the key lesson of this week’s Torah portion.” When wrestling with his unknown assailant, “Jacob does not relent, hoping that he can hold on…

“Have you given thanks this week?” asks Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “It’s challenging to express gratitude when we are enduring hardship. Take some time this Thanksgiving weekend just to be thankful. Consider the misery in this…

In this week’s parashah, Abraham’s trusted servant devises a test to find a wife for Isaac. “Once Eliezer saw Rebecca, he relaxed his standards,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “He realized that by setting the bar…

Mourning the passing of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z’’l, our Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch said: “Blessed with dazzling brilliance, Rabbi Sacks helped millions answer life’s central questions and dilemmas. And in so doing, he bestowed incomparable honor…

“As the Trump presidency ends we must work to strengthen the institutions of democracy,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “It turns out that the protecting walls of American democracy are more fragile than we imagined. In…

“When I think about this current historical moment and these two biblical narratives of destruction, the story of the Tower of Babel feels particularly relevant,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “So many in positions of power…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch wades into the controversy surrounding the casting of Gal Gadot as Cleopatra that’s been roiling the Twitterverse: “Why shouldn’t an Israeli portray an ancient Middle Eastern queen? The subtlety and power of…

I love Simchat Torah at Stephen Wise. Our celebrations are different this year: we won’t be outside and we won’t even do hakafot inside the sanctuary,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “I hope that we remember…

“The increasing tendency in 21st-century America to affirm one acceptable answer is profoundly illiberal, even if it comes from the Left,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch on Yom Kippur. “For years we have allowed the foundations…

“On this Day of Atonement, we sense our human vulnerability as never before,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “Remain steadfast. Even now, in the dimness of the cave — at this, the most isolated, dark and…

On Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch delivered a message of hope and moral clarity: “We will never surmount the racial breach in our country without a willingness to step into and repair it. Judaism commands…

“We’d like to start fresh, but that is impossible,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “During these High Holy Days, we can learn from our mistakes and rebuild out of regret. Our regrets give us raw material…

On the first Shabbat back in our sanctuary, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch discusses this week’s parasha, “Ki Tetze” — “When You Go Out.”: “Perhaps because ‘Ki Tetze’ begins with going out to war, much of the…

“Today is an important day: June 19th, the day that the emancipation finally arrived to the slaves of Galveston. It wasn’t the exact day they were freed, recalled the descendants of the slaves, but that’s…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch discusses George Floyd’s death and our country’s yearning for justice.

Judaism was never big on self-denial,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch discussing this week’s parashah. “Holiness is expressed through ethical actions. Fundamentalists and extremists distort the mainstream Jewish tradition of seeking moderation, logic and reason.

Passover and Shavuot are linked conceptually, which is why we count down the days,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “You can’t have freedom — Passover — without law — Shavuot. If we do not embrace responsibility,…

“If you shall follow my laws…” begins this week’s parashah. “That word ‘if’ is one of the most consequential words,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “It connotes all of the uncertainties of life.”

Bigger people have a responsibility to smaller people.” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch discusses the obligations outlined in this week’s parashah, Emor. “To diminish people who are not quite as big in responsibility or social status violates…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch delves into what the this week’s parashah has to say about labor and providing for those less fortunate: “Why do we have obligations to those who cannot support themselves? The Torah is…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch has always been a bit intimidated by this week’s parasha, Tazria-Metzora, which deals with treating those afflicted with disease. “It lays out a path for these people to be quarantined and then…

“New York’s streets are silent now, but our city will come back noisy as ever,” says our Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “As we rebuild, we, ourselves, will be rebuilt.”

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch asks what kind of person each of us will be when we emerge from social isolation and finds guidance from Jewish tradition.

On the morning of Passover and with spring in the air, Rabbi Samantha Natov spoke about how our history and practicing gratitude for even the smallest things helps us to be resilient in tough times…

On the Shabbat before Passover, each Israelite household was commanded to watch over a lamb for four days before using its blood to mark their doorposts. “God wanted the Israelites to earn their freedom —…

“We read in the Book of Daniel, ‘thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting.’ We must pass this test — or there will be incalculable human suffering,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “Have patience.…

We never really think about how connected we are with everybody else,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “This week’s Torah portion emphasizes that Moses assembled the entire people of Israel in order to complete the tabernacle.…

As we focus on “social distancing” and staying healthy in the challenging months ahead, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch urges us “to focus on the things that really matter to us: life, family, friends, meaning, purpose.”

“When we are anxious and afraid, we often act unintelligently — with little wisdom and with pervasive cruelty,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. As the coronavirus looms, what we need is a good, strong dose of…

After accidentally dating a d’var Torah “3019,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch began to think about the world in 1,000 years and how future generations will look back on our time.

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch questions our country’s health in the wake of the NBA-China controversy. “The general manager of the Houston Rockets sent a rather bland tweet upholding the struggle for democracy in Hong Kong –…

On Yom Kippur, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch discusses the ways we seek to escape – and give meaning and purpose – to the anxiety of life. Some choose the path of science and technology, but does…

In his Rosh Hashanah sermon, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch spoke about anti-Semitism from both sides of the aisle, slamming the right for excusing hate speech and the left for hypocrisy on Israel, and criticizing the Reform…

Before we are born, we contain the knowledge of everything in the world,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov this Erev Rosh Hashanah. “Life, then, is a process of remembering. The best we can do is to…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch tackles questions of free will and morality in this crucial period leading up to the High Holy Days. “This season is about taking responsibility. Judaism insists that you can control your life…

The period before the High Holy Days, during the month of Elul, is one of the rare times in Judaism that we’re told to focus on ourselves, says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “The whole point of…

Welcoming officers from the Israel National Defense College for a special Kabbalat Shabbat service and dinner, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch spoke about the modern-day miracle of Israel and recounted how the Israelites’ march to the Promised…

After the recent loss of his mother, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects on life’s ephemeral beauty – and the central importance of mothers in our lives.

After a shooting attack on a California synagogue and an anti-Semitic cartoon published in The New York Times left American Jews reeling, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch addressed anti-Semitism coming from both the right and left: “Jews do…

“In every generation, every Jew should feel as if they were personally redeemed from Egypt,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch quotes from the Haggadah. “The Haftarah reading for the second day of Passover mentions Natan-Melech once, in…

Speaking about the recent college admissions, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch says: “The impulse to cheat is always present in our lives – especially in a society like ours that so rewards accomplishment. Jewish tradition teaches that…

“Right-wing anti-Semitism inclines towards violence. The anti-Semitism of the left is camouflaged by the rhetoric of human rights, anti-colonialism, liberalism, and white privilege. It tends to be expressed nowadays through hatred of Israel. And starting…

In this week’s parasha, God singles out Bezalel by name – and a good name is among our most precious possessions. “Anticipating modern times when, Jewish sages warned against the human propensity to damage a…

In this week’s parasha, Moses became so enraged that he took the tablets – described by the Torah as being carved by the very finger of God – and shattered them into pieces. In this…

Despite the characteristic rapid social changes of our times, we know what kind of behavior is right and what’s wrong, says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, who discusses the ongoing controversy in Virginia’s state government and the…

“With every technological advance – something is lost.” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch braved sub-zero temperatures to encourage us to create warmth by avoiding distractions and building meaningful relationships.

As mounting accusations of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel advocacy roil the national Women’s March movement, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch announced that Stephen Wise Free Synagogue will disassociate from Women’s March Inc., and that it will join the…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch discusses the painful reconciliation of Jacob’s sons in the Book of Genesis, and how we should seek to release unresolved anger in our lives. “I meet so many people who cannot forgive…

“I know that many of us are afraid. We gather today in memory, in solidarity, but also in defiance. To be a Jew is, itself, an act of defiance. We will not cower. Be proud…

“Sitting there in the Cabinet Room, waiting for the leader of the reconstituted Jewish state, I felt the mysterious, ineluctable flow of time.” Rabbi Hirsch reflected on his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,…

“Nowadays, we can’t really be sure whether a hurricane is just another storm, or if, somehow, the climate itself is changing – putting into question our very way of life. In the Torah, the key…

“For all living beings the body’s needs are to continue to exist, but, for human beings, the mind needs harmony.” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch asks difficult questions to justify religion’s relevance in our modern times.

On Yom Kippur, in the absence of an official response from the Reform movement to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon’s recent criticism of Judaism as “divisive” and Jewish intramarriage as “a ghetto of two,” Rabbi…

On Kol Nidre, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflected on his 30 years as a rabbi and how we come to develop wisdom and faith: “The world is bigger than any one of us. This realization that…

“If what some people mean by ‘religion should stay out of politics’ is that we should never engage in the social challenges of our times – never speak about the here and now, but only…

“Judaism survived because a privileged and comfortable adult – Pharaoh’s daughter – had compassion on a Jewish refugee child.” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch references the story of Moses and reminds us of the principles of our founding fathers…

“The very connectedness and shrinking of the world – that was supposed to bind us in a common thread of humanity – has isolated us.” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch responds to an unprecedented mental health crisis…

“It is one thing to point out – rightly – human suffering.  But you cannot be neutral between liberal democracy and authoritarian coercion, between respect for human life and contempt for life, between dignity and…

A trip to the barber causes Rabbi Hirsch to confront his mortality.

“We cannot fully understand the contemporary Jewish experience, or live complete Jewish lives, without Israel being part of our Jewish identity.” In celebration of Yom Haatzmaut, Israel Independence Day, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch honors our history…

On Holocaust Memorial Day, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch demands that we combat humanity’s evil impulses and instill the values of tolerance, decency, compassion, freedom, diversity, and respect. “Again and again and again we have chosen life. …

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch celebrates the last night of Passover by honoring the achievements of King David and our adult b’nai mitzvah class.

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch shares key points he made as a panelist on pro-Israel activism in progressive communities at the 2018 American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference, which was attended by thousands of Israeli…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects on the Florida teenagers fighting gun violence and our moral obligation to support them. “Heroism is the sustained advancement towards a moral goal when the gaze of the world has moved…

“Train yourselves and your children for moral performance as you would train yourselves for physical performance,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch says. “Do moral workouts. Spend part of every day practicing moral deeds.”

Responding to Poland’s new law that makes it a crime to accuse the Polish nation of complicity in the Holocaust, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch remembers a Polish officer who fought the Nazi invasion of his homeland…

“The human spirit responds to and is strengthened by goodness, kindness, social connections, family, and friends — precisely the rewiring that the Hebrew prophets emphasized nearly three thousand years ago,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch.

“Religion is more important to us than ever,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch says. “The Torah reminds us that machines serve us — not the opposite. We seek to make technology our tool, not our taskmaster.”

“America is not about where you came from,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch says in this sermon. “It’s about where you want to go.”

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects on President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “Judaism without Jerusalem is not Judaism.”    

“Even if we are devoted to attacking the windmills of injustice, the righteous fight itself might grind us down,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch says. “We need to step back — and pursue — the other principles…

“With every new massacre, it has become easier for us to move on,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “Instead of just thoughts and prayers, we need deeds, actions, resolutions, and resolve.” 

After the recent terrorist attack, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch finds symbolism in the New York City Marathon. “Above all else, the race tests persistence, endurance, and our will to continue.”

Rabbi Hirsch urges American Reform Jews to establish and fund a stronger progressive movement in Israel to counter the intensifying religious extremism of the country’s ultra-Orthodox monopoly.

Eternity came before us; eternity comes after us. Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch asks: “What is the significance of our brief sojourn on earth?”

In his Rosh Hashanah sermon, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch offers an assessment of the political and moral health of our country since the election of President Trump.

“It is good for you to take time off your academic pursuits and professional responsibilities and reflect in synagogue on what you want to do with all the knowledge you have acquired,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch…

“The secret of life is to fear what should be feared — but not allow fear to paralyze action and trample upon moral values,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch.

There is an essential truth that should govern our behavior, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch says. “You can give of yourself without depleting yourself. The spirit of God rests upon you. You can — you must —…

“What the Bible is teaching more than anything else is that human beings need other human beings,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch says in this sermon. “Practically everything we have, and everything we know, comes from other…

In a day and age when “it is hard for us to appreciate Jewish independence because it is our daily reality,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch finds inspiration for renewed commitment to Israel in his favorite biblical…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch urges our community to support the synagogue’s refugee relief work. “I hope you will tell your friends, share our moral indignation, and resolve to do something yourselves.”

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects on our recent mission to Israel. “I wish I could persuade those of you who have not been to participate in this transformative, life-altering journey — because words fall short.”

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch finds inspiration (and humor) in an incapacitating experience with a kidney stone. “The touch of a human hand — not the philosophy of eternal reward — is Judaism’s best response to pain.”

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch responds to the spate of threats against Jewish institutions across the country. “The only way to defeat hate is to confront it.” 

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch looks back on the more than four decades that have passed since the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade. “When it comes to the core of what drives us in life, our…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects on this era of instant gratification and “alternative facts” and reminds us: Jewish tradition is emphatic that there are no shortcuts in life.

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch responds to President Trump’s immigration ban and announces a congregational refugee relief trip to Greece and Germany. “Step into the shoes of the refugee,” he says. “Try to imagine yourself on a…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reminds us that we must always preserve and defend the Jewish tradition’s core values. “Our greatness is not only in cherishing and speaking of these values, but in living up to them…

Reflecting on hate speech that has recently plagued the small Jewish community of Whitefish, Montana, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch considers the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: “All that is required for evil to triumph is…

Through the lens of the biblical story of Joseph’s reunion with his brothers, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects on a deeply Jewish idea: that there is a guiding force in the universe. “Joseph could not unravel…

“Twas the seventh day of Hanukkah, and all through the night, Jews were observing Shabbat with delight.” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch mesmerized listeners of all ages with his fun take on a classic poem.

“Judaism is not passive acceptance of the divine will. God wants protest for the sake of what is right,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch says in this sermon. “The point of Judaism is to feel a kinship…

In his first sermon since Americans elected Donald Trump to be the next president of the United States, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch offers words of consolation and action. “I have not witnessed this widespread and communal…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch examines the human inclination to lie. As an example, he condemns UNESCO’s draft resolution that “simply erased” any connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem. “We must train ourselves to value and…

In his Yom Kippur sermon, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects on heroism and our quest for meaning. “If we really look, we will discover that everything is broken,” he says. “We are all infirm. We might…

In his Kol Nidre sermon, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch considers the US presidential election and Judaism’s demand that we speak about — and act upon — the moral challenges of our time. “Beyond all of the…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch focused on Israel in his Rosh Hashanah sermon. “The objective of the Jewish state is not only freedom for our people, but freedom for all people,” Rabbi Hirsch said. “We liberal Jews…

An unusual scene in Central Park inspires Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch to reflect on praying, blessings, and faith. “Try to pray for the permanent and infinite things… not only for yourself, but for others. And then–go…

“Your words are you: your character, your spirit – your essence,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch says in this recent sermon. “When leaders lie, they coarsen public values and corrode public life.”

“Life optimally lived is for, with, and through others.” In this sermon, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch describes how planning and personal accomplishment can be channeled towards the common good.

“He was a spectacular president – a position with little political power – but with the moral power to sway the hearts and minds of the people,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch said of the late Shimon…

Watch Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch’s inspiring Shabbat sermon on “Humility.” Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a reform Synagogue on the Upper West Side of New York. SWFS is a beacon of progressive Jewish thought, inclusive worship,…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects on the existential restlessness that resides in each of us. “Learning to live is about learning to control our desire for desire. If we do not learn this skill, desire will…

With the presidential primaries behind us, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch asks: What qualities do we want in our leaders? Jewish tradition hints that the great political leaders are not necessarily beloved; like Moses, they need to…

Touching on the sanctity of life, Judaism’s mandate to fight evil, the intolerable ease in this country of acquiring lethal firearms, religious extremism fueled by a nihilistic interpretation of Islam, and widespread bias towards the…

What gives your life meaning? Judaism urges protest, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects in this sermon. Don’t accept the world as it is: find meaning and purpose in fighting injustice.

“Jewish lives matter,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch said in Friday’s sermon as he welcomed officials from the Israel National Defense College to Stephen Wise Free Synagogue on May 20. “Antizionism is not necessarily antisemitism, but the…

“Judaism always believes in next year, not only as a prayer, but as a plan,” Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects. “In our tradition, the golden age is still to come.” For more than 100 years, Stephen…

Since ancient times, Jewish spiritual leaders have offered hope in the face of illness and suffering, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reminds us. It is a process of acceptance outlined in the Torah. Stephen Wise Free Synagogue…

Reflecting on the cacophony of the Internet, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch asks: Is all this information a sign of engagement or withdrawal? Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a Reform Synagogue on the Upper West Side of…

In this Shabbat Sermon, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects on the true meaning of religion in the wake of unspeakable recent horrors. Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a Reform Synagogue on the Upper West Side of…

Reflecting on a Torah portion that narrates the building of the Tabernacle, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch finds a fundamental lesson: the sublime is a product of the ordinary. Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a Reform Synagogue…

From the days of Moses, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects, participation in the Jewish community has been the essence of Judaism – an insight that illuminates the disconnect many Jews feel toward presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch draws on the Torah and New York Fashion Week to remind us: Do not look to outer beauty, look to the heart. Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a reform Synagogue on the…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch asks that we consider “That of which we are most proud, that which reveals the best of us every single day,” in this week’s Shabbat sermon, “Our Shelter: Go Downstairs!” Stephen Wise…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch reflects on “New York Values” in this week’s Friday night Shabbat sermon. Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a reform Synagogue on the Upper West Side of New York. SWFS is a beacon…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch delivers this week’s inspirational Shabbat Sermon, “Powerball.” Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a reform Synagogue on the Upper West Side of New York. SWFS is a beacon of progressive Jewish thought, inclusive…

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch offers his insight in this week’s Shabbat Sermon, “Talking Trump.” Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a reform Synagogue on the Upper West Side of New York. SWFS is a beacon of progressive…