Israel in March

I am very excited about returning to Israel in two weeks. It will be Valley Outreach Synagogue's first Israeli trip and hopefully, the first of many more to come. I would love for every member of our congregation to experience Israel at some point.

This photo of my family was taken in the market in Old Jerusalem this summer.

Let Freedom Reign Without and Within

Most of us are born into liberty so liberty becomes our breath – a life-force operating involuntarily and with only occasional and voluntary conscious thought. We read about the Islamic world where only this week there is an announced change to criminal law. In Iran, anyone who converts from Islam is subject under an addition to the criminal code to the death penalty. It is interesting to contrast that news with the latest Pugh poll also released this week on religious trends in America. According to the poll, nearly half of Americans practice a faith other than the one to which they were born with no legal repercussions. The government leaves the important decisions of faith and even morality to the individual. In our society we are free to choose our paths to wisdom. Let freedom reign and inspire.