Many people fail in life because they dwell on their deficiencies rather than on their strengths. They underestimate their ability to perform masterfully, to rise to greatness. They don’t realize that overcoming one’s shortcomings is one of the wonderful challenges of life.

A few spoons of inspired foolery can shape the way we view the world. In terrible times, dare we waste time on humor? Dare we not?

Haham Gaon represented a balanced religiosity, deeply faithful to tradition while deeply sensitive to the needs and feelings of modern men and women. Haham Gaon was a model of dignity, compassion, and total commitment to the People of Israel and the State of Israel. As a proud Sephardic rabbi, he refused to compromise his own traditions in order to curry favor among others.

Rabbi Hayyim Angel continues to teach throughout the community, and many classes are available to members and friends of our Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals.

Teaching the History of Jewish Life in Europe Pre Kristallnacht to young adolescents asks us to question our motivations, objectives and focus. The study and experience of history occurs in informal  and formal ways. With good teachers, students can develop and connect their understandings and experiences to what is presented.

We tend to think of our religious commitments as being built on a concrete foundation. Every perceived crack raises a fear that the entire edifice might collapse. But we can view our commitments as a boat, held aloft by the surging waters of a river that are continually rising and falling, but always, in aggregate, carrying the boat forward, downstream toward the sea.