Master of Hebrew Letters (March 2014 KOL)

In addition to ordination, graduates of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), our Reform seminary, also receive a Masters in Hebrew Letters degree midway...more

March 6, 2014

We All Have A Song (February 2014 KOL)

There are so many modalities in which to express our Judaism.  For some it is song, others words or images, art or dance, and even...more

February 4, 2014

Lunch Meeting With Secretary of State Kerry

Dear Members, This afternoon, I had the privilege of attending a luncheon with Secretary of State John Kerry for fifty national Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...more

January 29, 2014

Festival of Light – Festival of Religious Freedom (11/27/13 at Abiding Presence, 8 p.m.)

First night of Chanukah 5774:  Thankgiving and Chanukah Message        We take light for granted.  Imagine a world without electricity.  For most of...more

November 29, 2013

Celebrate Thanksgivukkah at Church This Year (November 2013 KOL)

79811. That is the next year that Chanukah and Thanksgiving will coincide according to a physicist and mathematician whose bris I officiated at many years...more

November 5, 2013

The ABC’s of TBS by RARP (October 2013 KOL)

When I first arrived in Virginia, as an assistant rabbi in 1982, I was ill-prepared to navigate the Washington world of acronyms beyond the common...more

October 2, 2013

L’Chaim To Life! (Erev Rosh Hashanah 5774)

To Life! sung by the cast of Fiddler on the Roof (performed before sermon begins by both rabbis)   Here’s to our prosperity. Our good...more

September 17, 2013

ME, and “All of You” (Yom Kippur 5774)

This sermon may not be used, shared, or copied without express permission of the author I’m Italian!!! From north of Tuscany, originally.   According to my...more

September 17, 2013

L’chaim: Viewing Life through the Lens of Death (Yizkor Service 5774)

Whether we keep an old-fashioned written calendar, or an electronic one, most of us lead very busy lives.  When someone wants to meet with us,...more

September 15, 2013

Shanah Tovah From Rabbi Perlin (September KOL)

As we gather together this year to share the High Holy Days, quickly followed by Sukkot and Simchat Torah, we feel a sense of return:...more

September 6, 2013