Rabbi Steven Abraham

Before Brené Brown made the arena popular, it sat under the glass in my office. There’s a line I return to often—not from Torah or Talmud, but from Theodore Roosevelt. From a 1910 speech in Paris, often quoted, often misunderstood: “It is not the critic who counts… The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena… who errs, who comes short again and again… but who does actually strive to do the deeds… who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, … [Read more...]

What the Theologians Knew About Prayer Abraham Joshua Heschel once wrote, “Prayer begins at the edge of emptiness.” That line has always stayed with me. He meant, I think, that prayer begins where words run out, where answers fail, where the world no longer makes sense and something inside us still refuses to go numb. Prayer, for Heschel, wasn’t passive. It wasn’t a way to flee the world. It was a form of resistance. “To pray is to stake one’s life on the hope that God is still listening,” … [Read more...]

Prayer Is Not Magic—But It Is Transformational Prayer is not magic. It does not grant wishes, bend reality, or unlock divine rewards like some celestial slot machine. It doesn’t promise miracles on demand or offer a shortcut through suffering. And yet—I believe in it. Not because of what it can get me, but because of what it does to me. Prayer, at its core, is not about outcomes. It’s about orientation. It is a practice that repositions the self—away from immediacy and … [Read more...]

Since October 7th, I’ve witnessed a phenomenon that defies both logic and precedent. In the wake of the Hamas massacre and the ensuing surge in global antisemitism, I have not only comforted congregants, written eulogies, and held space for grief—I have also found myself receiving more inquiries about conversion to Judaism than at any other point in my rabbinic career. And not just a trickle. A surge. They come in quietly, at first. A DM on Instagram. A hesitant email. A conversation after … [Read more...]

The powerful new film October 8 does something profoundly important: it vividly captures the jarring immediacy and raw trauma of what happened after October 7th—not only the unprecedented attack itself but the equally unprecedented global backlash against Israel that erupted within hours, long before any Israeli response. Watching this film, I was reminded how swiftly the narrative shifted. As Israelis and Jews worldwide grappled with horror, grief, and disbelief, we found ourselves abruptly … [Read more...]

Tonight, together with our community, I watched the film October 8th, and since the credits rolled, I've been carrying around a heaviness, a quiet ache that's difficult to shake. As a rabbi, I've spoken many times about tragedy, resilience, and the complex layers of grief and hope embedded in Jewish identity. But watching October 8th wasn't an intellectual exercise; it felt visceral, deeply personal, and painfully raw. The film's stark portrayal of the day after October 7th … [Read more...]

Islamophobia is a term frequently used in contemporary discourse, ostensibly to identify and condemn prejudice against Muslims. On the surface, it seems to be a straightforward concept, signaling the legitimate recognition of bigotry aimed at a particular religious group. However, upon deeper examination, it becomes clear that the word "Islamophobia" has been designed, consciously or unconsciously, to blur important distinctions—distinctions between prejudice against individuals and legitimate … [Read more...]

There is something beautifully countercultural about being Jewish all the time. Not just when it’s convenient. Not just when the challah is fresh, the candles are flickering, and the calendar tells us it’s time. But all the time. To be Jewish in the everyday is to take on a life of kavannah (intention) and keva (structure)—to infuse the routine with meaning and to accept responsibility not as a burden, but as a sacred calling. And yet, in our modern lives, with their relentless pace and … [Read more...]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/opinion/ukraine-putin-trump-republicans.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare As Americans, and particularly as Jews, we must recognize that Ukraine serves as a "canary in the coal mine," signaling broader threats to democracy and international stability. Historically, Jews understand profoundly the consequences of unchecked aggression and authoritarianism, having repeatedly endured persecution and violence. Allowing Ukraine to succumb … [Read more...]

Holocaust education, with all its noble intentions, has long been seen as a moral imperative—a bulwark against hate, antisemitism, and collective amnesia. And yet, after decades of curricular development, museum exhibits, mandatory school programs, and international days of remembrance, we are left asking: has it worked? The answer, painfully, is: not as we hoped. Rates of antisemitism are rising across the globe—on college campuses, in political discourse, in online spaces, and even in … [Read more...]