At a gathering mourning the surprise attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians and expressing solidarity with Israel, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch said: “We saw in vivid reality what a pogrom looks […]

Fifty years after the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch reflects on his experience as a 14-year-old new Israeli immigrant and the Jewish state’s brilliant successes and […]

An encounter with a very non-New York couple leaves a lasting impression on Rabbi Ammi Hirsch. “They reminded me of the basic truth of our tradition: that a wise person […]

From the summit of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest high in the Bavarian Alps, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch gazed upon now-tranquil Europe and reflected: “The brilliant Jewish intellectuals who helped create and define […]

“I fear that we are losing the soul of the Reform movement,” said Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch at the opening of Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism, a two-day conference gathering more than 300 […]

Leviticus spells out what may happen if we act unjustly — in shocking detail, says Rabbi Ammi Hirsch. And with disconcerting prescience, it predicts the survivors “shall stumble over one […]

“We’ve made it to 75!” says Rabbi Ammi Hirsch on Israel’s 75th Independence Day. “The Jewish state is our supreme accomplishment and the demographic center of the Jewish world. It […]

Rabbi Ammi Hirsch struggles to understand how his dental plan could deny his claim. “Try putting yourself in another’s shoes — or the dentist’s chair,” he suggests.

“This will be the most painful sermon of my career,” says Rabbi Ammi Hirsch as he addresses the crisis in Israel. “Something fundamental is at stake. It is not only […]

“The purpose of the Tabernacle was to promote the high and noble ideal of God,” says Rabbi Ammi Hirsch. But the Torah focuses on the minute details of its construction. […]

Israeli archaeologists recently made a remarkable find: textile scraps containing the brilliant color of purple mentioned in this week’s parashah. “Imagine being invited to Solomon’s court and peeking into his […]

The crossing at the Red Sea was the moment everything changed. “Every Jew must consider themselves as if they were slaves in Egypt,” says Rabbi Ammi Hirsch, recalling our synagogue’s […]

“Congressman George Santos is young and articulate, has an amazing resume — and is a proud American Jew. There’s just one problem: none of it is true…” says Rabbi Ammi […]

Prompted by this melancholy season to ponder the passage of time, our Rabbi Ammi Hirsch shares a connection that Jewish tradition draws between Jacob and Hanukkah. “We never know how […]

“I have never shied away from engaging the political process,” said Rabbi Ammi Hirsch on the recent elections in the U.S. and Israel. Pointing out the need to constantly cultivate […]

This week’s parashah describes the construction of the Tower of Babel, and the scattering of all the peoples of the earth. Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch presents differing interpretations of the tower […]

In the aftermath of the Golden Calf, God swore to destroy the Israelites. “It was Moses alone who saved them,” says Rabbi Ammi Hirsch. “Leadership is about taking responsibility for […]

“The willingness to be different is integral to Judaism,” reflects Rabbi Ammi Hirsch on Yom Kippur. “Our different historical experiences led to our unique sensitivity to injustice and cruelty and […]

“What can one person do to impact on the many challenges facing our world?” asks Rabbi Ammi Hirsch on Erev Yom Kippur, reflecting on the war in Ukraine and our […]

On Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch addresses the proliferation of antisemitism on college campuses across America: “Antisemitism — even when it calls itself anti-Zionism — is a stain on the […]

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s overturning Roe v. Wade, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch consoled: “To live in a democracy is to be defeated often. The pendulum swings from victory to loss to victory again.” But, he continues: “Everything we receive from Jewish tradition pleads with us: Do not turn your back on the political […]

Welcoming elite officers from the Israel National Defense College, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch discussed the importance of supporting Israel amid “the steadily rising temperature of Jew-hatred.” He said: “Israel has restored the freedom, the collective dignity, the respect and self-respect — the wellbeing — of the Jewish people. Our guests tonight protect all of us, including […]

“The fundamental religious principle is the sanctity of life,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “Every other religious principle flows from this foundational truth. No right is absolute. Your right to purchase firearms must be balanced with my right to life and safety. The massacre in Uvalde, Texas is yet another sign that our national health is […]

Every other week, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch hosts intellectually honest conversations unpacking current events through the lens of Jewish wisdom. Unbound by politics and untethered by party lines, Ammi and his expert guests discuss everything from race and antisemitism to all the other issues that keep you up at night. Recorded from New York’s Stephen Wise Free […]

On the eve of our mission to Poland and the Ukrainian border, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch spoke about why it’s so important to bear witness and bring immediate material and emotional support. “I hope that those of us who take this journey will return better human beings — and better Jews,” he said.