Rabbi Michael Siegel | December 9, 2023
It is Shabbat Hanukkah. Ask any Jew how to observe Hanukkah and most will be able to tell you that for 8 days we kindle the Hanukkah Menorah, each night in ascending order. We eat either Latkes or Sufganiyot (according to your taste) and play dreidel. But ask the same group why we kindle the Continue Reading »
Bereshit | Rabbi Michael Siegel | October 14, 2023
B’herif Ayin is an ancient phrase that goes all the way back to time of the Bible. It means in the blink of an eye. The Rabbis use it to describe how quickly things can change. In an instant everything is different…in the blink of an eye. While many of us did not know the Continue Reading »
Yom Kippur | Rabbi Michael Siegel | September 27, 2023
Rabbi Michael Siegel | Anshe Emet Synagogue | Yom Kippur 5784 | Blum Robert Desnos was an influential French poet in the first half of the 19th Century. Desnos was also Jewish. During World War II, he served in the French Underground. Eventually, he was captured and sent to a concentration camp. The story of what Continue Reading »
Kol Nidre | Rabbi Michael Siegel | September 26, 2023
Rabbi Michael Siegel | Anshe Emet Synagogue Kol Nidre 2023/5784 | Sanctuary In my life, I have attended only one high school reunion. It was my 20th, and I have not been to one since. A bit of background is in order. In high school I was a football player first and a student second. Continue Reading »
Rosh Hashanah | Rabbi Michael Siegel | September 26, 2023
Rabbi Michael S. Siegel | High Holy Days 2023 Rosh Hashanah Day I | Sanctuary The word Emet is chanted 4 times. Emet means truth. On Rosh Hashanah of 1873, 20 Jews gathered in the living room of Louis Sax on the North Side of Chicago. Those joined together to welcome the New Year had Continue Reading »
Shemini | Rabbi Michael Siegel | April 15, 2023
Vayechi | Rabbi Michael Siegel | January 7, 2023
There is a story told of two friends who had grown old together. Serious baseball fans, they would discuss games throughout baseball history and argue controversial calls. One question eluded them, though: Was there baseball in heaven.? They made a deal with one another. Whoever would die first would have to come back and tell Continue Reading »
Chayei Sarah | Rabbi Michael Siegel | November 19, 2022
The Normalization of Anti-Semitism is No Laughing Matter: Sermon on Chayei Sara 2022 Anshe Emet Synagogue Rabbi Michael S. Siegel I remember my first Selichot service at Anshe Emet. There I was, fresh from the Seminary, wearing my brand-new white robe. My job was to recite a prayer with the congregation. I left my seat Continue Reading »
Tetzaveh | Rabbi Michael Siegel | February 12, 2022
Aliana is my first Bat Mitzvah with Panamanian roots, so in her honor and that of her family, both here in Chicago and those in Panama, I thought to speak this morning about something that had to do with Panama. My problem is that my knowledge of Panama is limited. Truth be told, the only Continue Reading »
Terumah | Rabbi Michael Siegel | February 5, 2022
How well do you visualize? When someone tells you about something that is going to be remodeled, and they say, Well, we are going to take this wall down and move this couch here, a chair there. We are going to change the color from this to this. Of course, we are changing the light Continue Reading »
