News - Charles R. Lightner

05 Oct 2026

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah 5787

Drash for Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah 5787 Shemini Atzeret is kind of the middle child of the Sukkot holiday cycle. It is a separate holiday that comes after the final day of Sukkot and before Simchat Torah. The word Atzeret usually means assembly, but in the context of the holiday it is understood to mean something like to retain or hold back. It is a day of restraint a...

The Public Experience of Yom Kippur – Part 1

chucklightner Judaic Topics

What Did the Public Actually Experience?

View at Medium.com

Parashat Va’etchanan and Judenrein in Louisiana

chucklightner Judaic Topics

The Jews are removed from the Ten Commandments

https://medium.com/@chucklightner/parashat-vaetchanan-and-judenrein-in-louisiana-cc1306a47af0?sk=279cd4f7970a9d638bc28499eff5bc19

Moses’ Unsettled State of Mind

chucklightner Judaic Topics

He Deserves Our Understanding and Compassion

https://medium.com/@chucklightner/moses-shows-an-unsettled-state-of-mind-5736d6f602ed?sk=5374fd9421bdc4cfe92335cd350b15d8

Parashat Balak

chucklightner Judaic Topics

It’s Really More About Bilaam

https://medium.com/@chucklightner/parashat-balak-0c31bc1a5ce8?sk=9512d58e6dd50ecf5b248e3682b7f831

Prayer For Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

chucklightner Judaic Topics, Others

This prayer was created in response to a perceived need to acknowledge challenges to mental, emotional, and psychological health in a way that is not explicit in the standard prayers of Jewish siddurim. It was developed in conversation with participants in the Shabbat Morning Minyan of Temple EmanuEl of Westfield, New Jersey. Prayer for Mental and Psychological Wellbeing BLESSED ARE YO...