Clergy Sermons

At Central Synagogue

Latest Sermons

One Step at a Time (Yom Kippur 5754)

Peter J. Rubinstein | September 25, 1993

At first, there was only an agreement to meet, then an agreement on where, then a conclusion on what had to be withheld from discussion, then consensus about what they would continue to disagree on, then principles, then statements, then a letter, and only then a signing. One simple step after another, described as, “Thunder built gradually… there was no startling pronouncement that suddenly made it happen.” The Oslo meetings had high hopes but no expectations. Every small accomplishment was a victory. Therein was the key. The process reflected the way each of us lives and the only way we grow. Our life happens in small steps.

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The Point of Decision (Rosh HaShanah 5754)

Peter J. Rubinstein | September 16, 1993

What if the story ended that way? What if the Jewish people ended with Abraham? How would history have been remarkably different? What if there had been a world without Judaism, a world without Jews? What if the fragile thread of Jewish existence had been cut back then at the beginning, as it is apparently being cut now?

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