In this d'var Torah, I speak of the strangeness of 'Jewish theology' and whatever the heck that is!

In this d'var Torah, I speak of the strangest week I think I have ever had and how it seams so wonderfully with this weeks Torah portion, Vayechi

In this dvar Torah, I speak about one part of today's in-vogue anti-Semitism: the angels that are speaking up in the gentile communities, the LGBTQ communities and the African American communities - all allies against hate.

This is a short dvar Torah on the beginning of the portion Hayyai Sarah, the portion describing Abraham's purchase of a burial place for Sarah and the strange way the portion opens by describing her age in a unique way.  What does it mean?

The full service audio from the memorial service for Norma Rosenbloom, long time member of Beth Miriam and activist in the community and politics since the 1940's.  

May her soul be bound up in the bonds of life and may her memory be a blessing.

Noah is not a child's story.  It is deadly serious.  And its lessons for us today in the midst of strife and war are worth heeding.

West Long Branch, NJ/Brooklyn, NY

Jackie passed away on October 16th in Brooklyn after a brief illness. She was born in New York City and grew up in West Long Branch with a passion for singing/acting and sports. She began vocal training at age 8, and performed duets with the children’s performer Jonathan Sprout on two of his albums. 

Upon entering Shore Regional High School, she joined Shore Players and won the part of Peter Pan, the only freshman to ever get the lead in a production. Jackie also had other memorable lead roles in No, No, Nanette and Mame, all while indulging her athletic side and competing for Shore in gymnastics, softball and soccer.

Wanting to hone her acting talents, Jackie was accepted at the prestigious Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, graduating with a BFA.

Jackie was featured in many, commercials, voiceovers, TV appearances (Sex and the City), Off-Off-Broadway productions, and Fringe Festival entries. Returning to her musical roots, she landed a lead role as a singer and bass player for a female punk rock band in Prey for Rock and Roll, which had a six-week run at legendary CBGB’s in downtown NYC. After moving to LA, she made three films, most memorably “Hold It Like a Baby,” where she met and costarred with her future husband, Nick.

Having supported herself throughout her acting career as a waitress and bartender, and feeling like she had gained a unique insight into the human condition, Jackie returned to NY to do graduate work in psychology at Brooklyn College, earning a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology.

For the past ten years, Jackie has practiced as a licensed counselor in Brooklyn, specializing in trauma, at Avenues Mental Health Counseling and building a thriving private practice. She brought all her varied skills to bear in her clinical work and was beloved by her patients, whom she helped immensely. In fact, her parents were so struck with her insight when she would talk about her work that Sharon never hesitated to refer patients to her. The feedback that Sharon always got was that Jackie was remarkable and gifted. 

Three years ago, Jackie fulfilled a childhood dream when she and Nick adopted a rescue puppy she named Pickles Sebastian, as she always said she would. To put it mildly, she was a devoted and wonderful mother to Pickles.

Jackie loved growing up with her older sister Jamie whom she admired and adored, and her younger brother Matt, whom she greatly enjoyed, mothered, and frequently entertained.

She will be immeasurably missed by them and by her parents, as well as by her three best friends from childhood Jen, Lauren, and Jamie, a friendship to which she brought infectious joy and unconditional love. As a quartet, their bond has remained unbreakable.

Jackie is survived by her husband, Nick Marcotti, and her parents, Drs. Ron and Sharon Kamm; her sister, Jamie Rose and her husband Lou, nephew Ian, niece Sophie; her brother Matt Kamm and his wife Tegan Kehoe and their newborn daughter Raina; and her uncle and aunt Rick and Patt Kamm, and many cousins.

Jackie’s uncle and aunt, Joel and Vickie Katz, predeceased her.

Services will be held at Bloomfield Cooper Jewish Chapels 2130 NJ-35, Ocean Township, NJ 07712 on Friday, October 21, 2022, at 1:00 pm.

Shiva will be begin after the funeral services at the Kamm Residence on Friday until 4:00PM

and will reconvene on Saturday from 6:30PM to 8:30PM (with a minion at 7:00PM) and on Sunday from 12:00PM to 5:00PM

8 Abis Place, West Long Branch, NJ 07764

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Jackie’s name to The Cowboy Capital Pet Assistance League or to St. Jude's Children’s Research Hospital.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bloomfieldcooperocean.com for the Kamm family.

In this sermon, I discuss the repentance the Reform movement has had to undergo.  As well, in the middle of the sermon a page was missing and I punted.  I kept the entire sermon as it was delivered to present the authentic experience, warts and all.  Listen to the very end....the lost page turned out to be a great teaching moment!

This is the Yom Kippur morning sermon which speaks about our essential goodness in spite of the fact that the noise of people's evil inclination gets all the attention. 

This is my Rosh Hashanna morning sermon for 2022. 

Two Tornadoes
An erev Rosh Hashanna sermon about restoring balance in our unbalanced world

The Russian barbarity in Ukraine has brought out the best in so many people.  In this sermon I discuss the experiences I had in Poland bring help to and bearing witness to the situation of the Ukrainian refugees forced to flee their homes.  Their pain is immeasurable and their determination inspiring.  I speak about this profoundly life-altering trip and hope that you, too, consider helping these people.

https://www.friendsofjcckrakow.org/ukraine

A trip through the archives on my thoughts from Erev Passover, 2020

A short meditation on the war in Ukraine and the sacrifices we make

The Disappearing Glacier

In this sermon, I share the thoughts of our ever-changing climate and the spiritual response to it.

Community Trust
 Rosh Hashanna Morning 2021
 Rabbi Cy Stanway

 
In this sermon I discuss the fundamental shift in our synagogues to a selfie-centered one and away from its real value: the soulful need for a community.

In this short essay, I share some of my thoughts about the Chauvin trial, verdict and the little and big injustices we encounter - or contribute to - each day.