Shabbat Sermon

The Omer: Make It Count
Parshat Bechikotai
June 1, 2024; 24 Iyyar 5784
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Facing the Wilderness
Parshat Beshalach
January 27, 2024; 17 Shevat 5784
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Va'Era: Anger and Her Friend Hope
Parshat Va'Era
January 13, 2024; 3 Shevat 5784
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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A White House Hannukah Reception Revelation
Parashat Miketz
December 16, 2023; 4 Tevet 5784
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Chayei Sarah - The Lives of Sarah
Parashat Chayei Sarah
27 Cheshvan 5784; November 11, 2023
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Mercy with a Sword at the Neck
Parashat Vayeira
19 Cheshvan 5784; November 4, 2023
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Lot: The very first Jewish hostage, and his daring rescue
Parashat Lech Lecha
13 Cheshvan 5784; October 28, 2023
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Pashat Noach: The Lone Redwood
Saturday, October 21; 6 Heeshvan 5784
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Tu B'Av Sermon: Love Languages
Saturday, August 5; 18 Av 5783
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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One, Two, Three, Four
Parshat Matot-Maasei
July 15, 2023; 26 Tammuz 5783
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Life Lessons from a Baby Rabbi
Parshat Pinhas
July 8, 2023; 19 Tammuz 5783
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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A Great Job for a Nice Jewish Kid; An Indispensable Job for the Jewish People
Parashat Be’haalotecha
June 10, 2023; 21 Sivan 5783
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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A (Denver) Nugget of Torah 
Parashat Naso
June 3, 2023; 14 Sivan 5783
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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The Balloon
Yizkor Sermon - Shavuot 5783
May 27, 2023; 7 Sivan 5783
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Numbers Only Count For So Much
Parashat Bamidbar
May 20, 2023; 29 Iyar 5783
Rabbi Adam Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Spiritual Comfort Food
Parashat Behar-Behukotai
May 13, 2023; 22 Iyar 5783
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Holy Connection, Holy Separation
Parashat Emor
May 6, 2023; 15 Iyar 5783
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Praying With My Back to the Mountains
Parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim
April 29, 2023; 8 Iyar 5783
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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The Cracked Clay Pot
Rosh Hodesh Iyyar 5783
April 22, 2023; 1 Iyyar 5783
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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The Angel of Death Has Been Working Overtime
Yizkor, 8th Day of Passover
April 13, 2023; 22 Nisan 5783
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom, Potomac, MD
Click HERE to read the Yizkor Passover Sermon.
 

The Meaning of Afikomen
Shabbat Ha’Gadol 5783
April 1, 2023; 10 Nisan 5783
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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What’s in Your Charoset?
Parashat Vayakhel-Pikudei/Shabbat Ha’Chodesh 
March 18, 2023; 25 Adar 5783
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom, Potomac, MD
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Don’t Listen to Haman!  (The alternative is inconceivable)
Shabbat Zachor 5783
March 4, 2023; 11 Adar 5783
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Home
Parshat Terumah
Saturday, February 25; 4 Adar 5783
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Bo Sermon
Parshat Bo
Saturday, January 28; 6 Shevat 5783
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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The Difference Between Moses & George Santos
Parshat Vaera
Saturday, January 21; 28 Tevet 5783
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Holy Diversity
Parshat Shemot
Saturday, December 14; 21 Tevet 5783
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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A Name Synonymous with Goodness
Parashat Vayechi
January 7, 2023; 14 Tevet 5783
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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New Year's Sermon 2022: The Power of Endings
Parshat Vayigash
Saturday, December 31; 7 Tevet 5783
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Beauty and the Body: A Jewish Take
Parashat Vayeshev
December 17, 2022; 14 Kislev 5783
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Vayishlach Sermon
Parshat Vayishlach
December 10, 2022
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons
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Toldot: "A Potato, An Egg, Coffee, and a Knife"
Parshat Toldot
November 25, 2022
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons
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The Murky Overlap Between Anti-Zionism & Antisemitism
Parashat Lech Lecha
November 5, 2022; 11 Marcheshvan 5783
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin
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Sacred Discomfort
Parshat Ki Tavo
September 17, 2022; 21 Elul 5782
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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“Parenting Wisdom from Unexpected Sources”
Parashat Ki Teitze
September 10, 2022; 14 Elul 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Shoftim Sermon
Parshat Shoftim
September 2022; Elul 5783
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Psalm for the Season of Repentance
Parshat Eikev
August 20, 2022; 23 Av 5782
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Sacred Discomfort: A Tisha B'Av Sermon
Parshat Devarim
August 6, 2022; 8 Av 5782
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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“Torah is Our City of Refuge”
Parashat Mattot-Masei
July 30, 2022; 2 Menachem Av 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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"Pieces of Peace"
Parshat Pinhas
July 23, 2022; 24 Tammuz 5782
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalo,
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“Curse Less; Bless More”
Parashat Balak
July 16, 2022; 17 Tammuz 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Rabbi Simmons' First Sermon
July 9, 2022
Rabbi Rachel A. Simmons, Congregation Har Shalom
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Sisterhood Shabbat – D’var Torah
May 21, 2022; 20 Iyar 5783
Betsy New-Schneider
Click HERE to read Betsy's D'var Torah.

The Interconnected Meaning of the Iyar Holidays 
May 14, 2022; 13 Iyar 5782 
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom 
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Jews & Diamonds (Baseball Diamonds, that is)
May 7, 2022; 6 Iyar 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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How to be Joyful on Pesach in Such a Complicated World (the Lessons of Rabbi Akiva)
Shabbat Ha’Gadol, 8 Nisan 5782; April 9, 2022
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Lady Gaga Stole the Show
Parashat Tazria; Shabbat HaChodesh
April 2, 2022; 1 Nissan 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Today & Not Tomorrow
Parashat Tzav 5782
March 19, 2022;16 Adar II 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin
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Ukraine & The Jews: Past, Present, and Future
Shabbat Zachor
March 12, 2022; 9 Adar II 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Don’t be a jackass; what donkeys can teach us about being better people
Parashat Mishpatim
January 29, 2022; 27 Shevat 5782
Rabbi Adam Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom
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Rethinking Tu B’Shevat: This is the season of growth and renewal
January 15, 2022; 13 Shevat 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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“You won’t really know what it’s like until you get there.”
CESJDS Shabbat
January 8, 2022; 6 Shevat 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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A society based on lies is not what God wants 
Parashat Vaera 5782 
January 1, 2022; 28 Tevet 5782 
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom, Potomac, MD 

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Swords and Bows
Parashat Vayechi
December 18, 2021; 14 Tevet 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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Taking the Extra Steps to Return to Shul (Click for Video)
Parashat Vayetzei
November 13, 2021; 9 Kislev 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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“Isaac’s Selective Blindness” (and what to do when your adult children disappoint you)
Parashat Toldot 5782
November 6, 2021; 2 Kislev 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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The Blessings of ‘Framily’
Parashat Chayei Sarah
October 30, 2021; 24 Heshvan 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom 

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Who are you laughing at?
Parashat Vayera
October 23, 2021; 17 Heshvan 5782
Rabbi Adam Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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The Mysterious Power of Brit Milah
Parashat Lech Lecha
October 16, 2021; 10 Cheshvan 5782
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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Heshvan, Mar Heshvan, Marheshvan…What to call this new month?!
October 2, 2021; 26 Tishrei 5781
Rabbi Adam Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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Pope Francis, we need to talk!
Parshat Nitzavim
September 4, 2021; 27 Elul 5781
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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Pay Attention to Your 'First Fruits'
Parshat Ki Tavo
Augut 28, 2021; 20 Elul 5781
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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Amalek, the Taliban, and Confronting Evil
Parashat Ki Teitzei
August 21, 2021; 13 Elul 5781
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
Parshat Shoftim
August 7, 2021; 6 Elul 5781
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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Take it or Leave it?
Parashat Va’etchanan 
July 24, 2021; 15 Av 5781
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

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"Being a Visionary"
Parshat Devarim/Shabbat Hazon
July 17, 2021; 8 Av 5781
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin

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“Shared Israeliteness”
Parashat Mattot-Masei 5781
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin, Congregation Har Shalom

Click HERE to read the Shabbat Sermon.