Congregation Sha'aray Shalom

10/18/2026

The sermon delivered by Rabbi Eric Berk on Rosh Hashanah Morning, Sept. 12, 2026. In which he shares that he’s been thinking a lot about hope. Hoping for better days, with regard to Israel and their internal and persistant political challenges to work through as well as, of course, the external and persistent threat to their existence; and equally hoping for much better days for Jews in our country and around the world, we who are facing the highest measured levels of antisemitism in generations.

In his words:

I was once asked, many years ago: “So, you’re Jewish?” My answer: “Hopefully.” At the time I was joking but also meant it in a more serious, and subversive, way: undermining what might or might have been lurking beneath the surface of that question, “So, you’re Jewish?”

In one sense, I was expressing: “I sure hope I’m Jewish! That’s how I’ve been living my life, so I hope I’m Jewish because that’s the life I’ve been living!” In another sense, I was also expressing: “I hope I’m Jewish, because it’s good to be Jewish.” And in another sense, I was also expressing – although, admittedly, at the time this wasn’t in the forefront of my mind but probably buried somewhere in my subconscious: “I hope I’m Jewish… enough. I hope I’m Jewish enough, in the right ways.” But if I were to answer the question today, I would mean it this way, too: “Am I Jewish? Hopefully. I am Jewish, with hope.”

How often does it seem that, looking ahead, we doubt our ability to go forward. And yet, once we have, we look back and see that yes indeed, we did move forward! Sometimes we cannot envision or imagine getting through something, until, having gotten through it, we look back and see that yes, we did it, we did get through it, we did survive it, we even succeeded in spite of our fear of failure.

What had once been unimaginable becomes our present and then, just as quickly as it came upon us, it becomes a memory. And as we reminisce we are amazed, delighted, astounded…and then it is on to the next challenge. And the next. And the next. And very soon we’re living a life that is full of accomplishment and success and disappointment and failure and we are alive and living. We keep going, with not a small amount of hope to push us forward.

That is what it means to live a life: to not only succeed but to also fail… and yet we must also learn from our failures in order to coax meaning and nurture gratitude out of life and our choices. Meaning and gratitude lead to hope. Finding hope is good and embracing hope is even better. And when hope is a struggle, it remains our task to find the smallest amount of hope and then embrace it, to hold tight to it, in spite of it all or because of it all.

You and I, we know this; I know that you know this. Maybe it was our own health struggles: yours, mine, certainly, maybe, maybe certainly, it was the health struggles of your loved one.

10/18/2026

The sermon delivered by Rabbi Eric Berk on Yom Kippur morning, on Sept 21, 2026, in which he shared a tale about a special man he once knew, not some fictional character on a show named Denny, but the real thing, Dan: a man I met, a man who redefined strength, for me, and for all those around him – truly, a remarkable man.

“Rabbi,” he said, “I want to tackle the tough stuff. Take the gloves off; don’t hold back; challenge me, and call me on it.” I can say with certainty that in the eight years of Hospice work with well over fifteen hundred patients, this was the very first time – and probably the only time – that a Hospice patient, a dying man, would ask me to “take the gloves off;” would ask for – no – would demand honesty and truth and accountability. I soon became accustomed to the idea of “firsts” in my time with Dan.

Dan died 12 years ago. And he only knew him for several months in 2014 and every so often he still regularly thinks about him and lately he thinks about him all the time and he misses him. He misses him and he misses his strength and his wisdom and the lessons he left me.

Here is what he wrote in his visit notes as “lessons from Dan:
— “Be honest when you need to be honest, not just when you want to be honest.”
— ”When everyone around you doesn't believe in you, believe in yourself; when you don't believe in yourself, believe in everyone around you.”
— “Be your most authentic self, even if you don't feel like you are.”
— “Be the only person who defines your own life. Don't let anyone else define your life for you -- unless it's the person you love, and then: define your lives together.”
— “Stand up for those who are weaker, those who are disenfranchised, those who are bullied.”
— “Don't be afraid to walk away from what doesn't feel right - but don't run away from feeling uncomfortable either: that might just be where you find the most fulfillment and meaning.”

These are his lessons from Dan.

10/18/2026

The sermon delivered by Rabbi Eric Berk on Kol Nidrei, Erev Yom Kippur, on Sept. 20, 2026, in which he discussed A.I. from ChatGPT to ChatGP…ME.

And yet, while A.I. is intelligent, we know that even non-artificial, authentic intelligence – of the human variety – does not correlate with, does not equate to, does not guarantee morality. Far from it. So what is it that can balance intelligence alone? Morality, that which makes us humans most different from other animal life, and indeed, from a Jewish perspective, most like God.

Not too long ago, he thought, “I’ll ask ChatGPT to make Instagram size slides of what I’ve written, only what I had written.” And it did – but it did something else, too – it added a sentence. it added a sentence!

And so he can say this with absolutely certainty: Those in charge of AI must do everything to keep it under human control. They must do everything to keep people safe -- No different than Gov’t legislating that early automakers incorporate seatbelts to save lives, or instituting building codes to prevent injury and deaths.

Need more convincing? He asked ChatGPT this question: “Should humanity be afraid of A.I.?” Its answer: “Yes”— it answered “yes!” and continued – “but “concerned and vigilant” is more appropriate than “scared.”

He concludes by offering a midrash of his own, a creative writing endeavor, in which we might imagine God looking at us and remarking: “Humanity, you are creating something which rivals your own superiority over all other life on earth. Sounds familiar… ah, yes, it happened to me, too. Spoiler alert: it might not go as expected for you, too. Humanity surprised me in ways both wonderful and terrible, so you might expect the same. It is exciting and threatening and scary but the difference is, I did not create humanity to be my tools. I created humanity in my image, to be fellow creators, partners in creating and perfecting and repairing. Why? b/c, as I said of every stage of creation, it was “good.” Maybe also b/c I was curious, perhaps lonely too. Maybe in your need to create, you also can relate. But it was good. Every day of creation and all I created I describe as “good,” except for one aspect of creating the first human, actually -- what was not good about creating the first human was for the first human “to be alone.” Being alone, I said was “not good” (look it up, in Gensis 2:8). So remember that, avoid loneliness, seek out each other. How? Look up! look up from your devices. Talk less to A.I., and speak more with your family and friends and community members; and when you’re speaking with those you know and love and yes even those who disagree with you, please remember please remember to listen. listen! yes, listen! The watchword of the Jewish people, “Shema Yisrael,” “hear, O’Israel,” Shema, listen, “Hear O’Israel,” I meant it! Yes, listen to me in the words of Torah and please, please listen to each other. And remember, I’m listening too. You can always talk to me. That is why I am known as “shome’ah tefillah,” the one who hears prayer. I hear you and I am listening. But please: look up, talk to each other, value one another, protect each other, and listen to one another. Please.”

10/16/2026

The sermon delivered by Rabbi Eric Berk on Erev Rosh Hashanah, September 11, 2026, in which he asked all of us to remain mindful of the blessing of being: for those who were alive for 9/11 and being where we were, whether there or here; and for all of us, the blessing of being able to stand up, stand strong, and resist – whether it’s spiritually, physically, emotionally; the blessing of being brave, being empathetic, being caring, and yes, being honest about the historical truth of September 11. And above all: remaining mindful of the blessing of being ‘more than.’

25 years later, life has gone on and we have gone on, and Judaism expects more from us than to just “go on,” especially now during these High Holy Days. Just being, just going on: both are necessary and are indeed blessings, but being and going on aren’t always enough. We must strive to be more, to be better, to aim to be our best selves, to be ‘more than.’

09/24/2026

What’s your “Hineni? Whether it’s a financial contribution to our Annual Appeal or simply showing up, we all have something to give. Please take the time to hear the Yom Kippur Appeal from CSS President Jonathan Fox, recorded Yom Kippur morning.

And thank you for showing up!

Shared with Dropbox

09/23/2026

Our traditional photograph of all the past and current congregation presidents. How lucky we are to have this leadership in our midst and how blessed we are to all be able to get together and start our Kol Nidre service each year.

Julie Fox Steven Pohl Adam Brodsky
Scott Garland Grace Strake Michael Teller
Barbara Maisel Marcus David Solomon
Cathy Rein Jonathan Fox

08/17/2026

We write to affirm our solidarity with the congregants and guests of New York City’s Central Synagogue, where Friday evening’s Shabbat Services were suddenly disrupted Friday night by an antisemitic attack. As deeply disturbing as it was, we remain grateful for three reasons: no one was seriously injured, the assailant has been arrested, and that there are no known threats to Central Synagogue.

Any attack on a House of Worship is an attack on every House of Worship — but an incident actually within Synagogue walls and amongst the families, children, men, and women? This is profoundly unsettling and personally distressing and why we - your clergy, staff, and lay leaders - of Congregation Sha’aray Shalom often reassess our security needs in order to maintain both a welcoming and safe community. While some measures are visible and others less so, we hope to reassure you by sharing the following measures:

- The tangible presence of private security at our Services, Religious School Sundays, and large events

- To ensure continuity of coverage we recently transitioned to the same security provider employed by the JCC Early Learning Center whose security officer is present inside the school doors every day of summer camp and school

- Welcoming all, but always with caution and persistent attention toward visiting guests especially those we might not have expected

- Our very strong relationship with Hingham Police Department and First Responders

- Remaining educated of credible threats and best practices in the field of community security

- Receiving another successfully approved security grant which will result in further safety enhancements

- And even more, which security professionals advise us to leave unsaid

While we cannot control everything that happens to us, we can do our very best to control how we respond to that which happens to us. To that end, we ask that vigilance and calm remain paramount and please know we welcome your questions and concerns, as always.

We hope and pray that you and yours, along with our Jewish Communities and all good people the world over, have a Shavua Tov, a good week.

—- Rabbi Eric Berk // Cantor Steven Weiss

08/05/2026

https://forward.com/news/842828/terre-haute-torah-united-hebrew-congregation-jerry-orbach/

The one-day mission involved two vehicles, 150 boxes, one electric piano and a victory lap on the golf course

04/16/2026

AN INDOOR, FUN FUNDRAISER!
This Sunday!! ALL AGES! Putt-Putt Palooza!
Sunday, April 19, 2026
10:30am-2:30pm

Kick off your school vacation with putt-putt!
Bring family, friends, and neighbors!

Join Congregation Sha’aray Shalom for a PROFESSIONALLY set-up mini-golf fundraiser: we’ll have snacks for purchase, friendly competition, community spirit, and fun for all ages!

Sign up today or just drop-by our event!

https://shaarayshalom.shulcloud.com/form/congregation-shaaray-shalom-CSS%20Putt%20Putt%20Mini%20Golf%20Fundraiser%202026

If you’re unable to attend but would like to support the community, please visit:
https://shaarayshalom.shulcloud.com/payment.php

04/15/2026

This Sunday!! ALL AGES! Putt-Putt Palooza!
Sunday, April 19, 2026
10:30am-2:30pm

Kick off your school vacation with putt-putt!
Bring family, friends, and neighbors!

Join Congregation Sha’aray Shalom for a professionally set-up mini-golf fundraiser: we’ll have snacks for purchase, friendly competition, community spirit, and fun for all ages!

Sign up today but no need to pre-register, feel free to drop in!

https://shaarayshalom.shulcloud.com/form/congregation-shaaray-shalom-CSS%20Putt%20Putt%20Mini%20Golf%20Fundraiser%202026

If you’re unable to attend but would like to support the community, please visit:
https://shaarayshalom.shulcloud.com/payment.php