Rabbi Noah Gradofsky

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Weekly Sermons    Holiday Instructions

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About Rabbi Gradofsky

Rabbi Noah Gradofsky joined the Temple Israel Family in August of 2004.  A native of Laurelton, Queens, Rabbi Gradofsky attended The Brandeis School in Lawrence through 8th grade. His high school education was at HANC (Hebrew Academy of Nassau County) in Uniondale. Rabbi Gradofsky's undergraduate studies were at the joint program between Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary in NYC, where in 1998 he earned a BA in Economics/Political Science from Columbia and a BA in Talmud from JTS.

After College Rabbi Gradofsky's studies led him to the Rutgers University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey where he received a Juris Doctor in 2002 and the Institute of Traditional Judaism (AKA "The Metivta") in Teaneck, New Jersey. Rabbi Gradofsky received his rabbinic S’mikha (ordination) from renowned Talmud scholar Rabbi David Weiss Halivni of the ITJ in May 2004.  Rabbi Gradofsky is a member of the bars of New York and New Jersey.  He also serves on the board of the Union for Traditional Judaism (UTJ).

Rabbi Gradofsky is eager to meet all the members of Temple Israel. Please call or stop by the synagogue office, or e-mail Rabbi Gradofsky to arrange a time to meet.

Rabbi Gradofsky can be contacted by e-mail at (this is not a link.  you must type the e-mail address into your e-mail program) or on AOL Instant Messenger at RabbiNoahG.

Rabbi's Writings

The Rabbi's Writings are available in pdf form only.  Get Acrobat Reader These works are available for free download and may be freely reproduced in their original form.  If you would like to reproduce these items in other than the original form, please contact Rabbi Gradofsky.  If you have any comments or questions about this material, please feel free to contract Rabbi Gradofsky.  Most of these hyperlinks will open in a new window.  To return to this page, close the new window.

Divrei Torah (sermons) for Holidays

Rosh Hashanah

- Devar Torah for 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5765/2004 (9/16/04) "A God of Justice and Mercy"
- Devar Torah for 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5765/2004 (9/16/04) "God Doesn't Ask the Impossible."
- Devar Torah for 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5766/2005 (10/4/2005)  "When I Grow Up"
- Devar Torah for 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5766/2005 (10/4/2005)  "As We Are"
- Devar Torah for 1st Day of Rosh Hashanah 5767/2006 (9/23/06) "Wrestling With the Angels" 
- Devar Torah for 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5767/2006 (9/24/06) "The Two Walked Together" 
- Devar Torah for 1st Day of Rosh Hashnah 5768/2007 (9/13/07) "The Wandering Parent"
- Devar Torah for the 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5768/2007 (9/14/07) "Homecoming"
- Devar Torah for 1st Day of Rosh Hashnah 5769/2008 (9/30/08) "Restoring Your Faith In Humanity"  *NEW*
- Devar Torah for the 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah 5769/2008 (10/1/08) "Man Can Hear God and Live" *NEW*

Yom Kippur

- Devar Torah For Yom Kippur Day 5765/2004 "Why We Ask God to Remember Our Loved Ones."
- Devar Torah for Kol Nidre 5766/2005 (10/4/2005) "The Opportunity Inherent in Sin"
- Devar Torah for Yom Kippur Day 5766/2005 (10/4/2005) "You're Not Chopped Liver."
- Devar Torah for Kol Nidre 5767/2006 (10/1/06) "Were Last Year's Prayers Answered?"
- Devar Torah for Yom Kippur Day 5767/2006 (10/2/06) "Plastic Surgery for the Soul" 
- Devar Torah for Kol Nidre 5768/2007 (9/14/07) "The Easiest Day to be a Jew"
- Devar Torah for Yom Kippur Day 5768/2007 (9/15/07) "Forgiveness" 
- Devar Torah for Kol Nidre 5769/2008 (10/8/08) "Not A Panacea: Domestic Abuse and Substance Abuse in the Jewish Community" *NEW*
- Devar Torah for Yom Kippur Day 5769/2008 (10/9/08) "In My Daughter's Eyes" *NEW*

Other Holidays

- Thanksgiving sermon at Long Beach Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration (11/22/04).
- Passover #1 "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained" (4/25/05)
- Passover #2  "Became a Nation" (4/26/05)
- Passover #3"What is this Worship to You" (4/10/07)  
Yizkor: (Shavuot 6/15/05) "Live Like You Were Dying."
- Yizkor: (Shavuot 5766/2006) (Yizkor and Aufruf)

Weekly Divrei Torah (sermons)

Bereshith (Genesis)

Noach 10/16/04 "Perfect in His Generation" 
Lech Lecha 10/23/04 "Taking a Step"

Shemoth (Exodus)

Shemoth 1/1/05 "The Potential for Good and Evil" (Discussion of tsunami).
Vaera 1/8/05 "Getting in the Habit."
Ki Tisa 2/26/05 "Changing God's Mind"
Ki Tisa 3/10/07 "Birthday Sermon"  

Vayikra (Leveticus)

Bamidbar (Numbers)

Naso 6/12/05 "Relating to Yourself and Others."
Korach 7/2/05 "The Value of Dissent."

Devarim (Deuteronomy)

Emor 5/19/04 "Interview" Shabbat
Reeh 8/14/04 First Shabbat with Temple Israel
Ki Tavo 9/4/04 "Hayom"

Holiday Instructions

- How to Light Chanukah Candles (5769/2008).
- Laws of the 9 days and Tisha B'av (includes discussion of the 3 weeks). UPDATED
FOR 2008.
- Guide to Passover (5768/2008).  
- Chametz Sale Authorization Form (5768/2008).  
- An overview of the laws of sitting in the Sukkah
- Does One Wear Tefillin On Chol Hamoed?
- Living in the Sukkah on Shemini Atseret
- Shabbat Evening At Home

Other Writings

- Being a Halachic Jew: Why the Old Labels Just Don't Fit (Shavuot discussion 5767/2007)
- Invocation at 2004 Kristallnacht commemoration sponsored by the Holocaust Memorial Committee of Long Island.
- Invocation at 2005 Kristallnacht commemoration sponsored by the Holocaust Memorial Committee of Long Island. Posted (Posted 6/11/06).
- Opened letter regarding women's roles in Temple Israel
- Response to Rabbi Herschel Schachter's Article on Women as Rabbis
- Basic Judaism Course Materials
(Work in progress.  This PDF includes the syllabus, the "Guided Tour to the Siddur," and the beginning of "Jewish Literature, from Torah to Today" (covering Genesis-Joel + Jonah & Esther)).
-
Temple Israel's Junior Congregation and Hebrew School Siddur
-
Information and prayers for an unveiling ceremony.  

 

Source Material & Classes

Halacha
- Maimonides' Seder: Mishneh Torah Laws of Chametz and Matzah Chapter 8, translated and annotated.  
-
“Omer Observances: Appropriate Abstinence or Excessive Restraint?”  
- What Haftorah Should Be Recited for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Av? Note: This source sheet is not translated, though there are some English notes.  **New (Posted 7/6/08)**
- It Really Is a Sin: Waste in Jewish Law ***New (Open House Shabbat Lunch 'N Learn 2008, posted 9/12/08).
- The Command of God: The meaning and Application of Blessings that State "Who Has Sanctified Us By Your Commandment and Commanded Us To . . ."  Particular attention to the blessing on reciting Hallel on Rosh Chodesh.  (Posted 1/8/06)
- May additional aliyahs (hosafot) be added on Yom Tov or Yom Kippur?  Note: This source sheet is not translated, though there are some English notes.  (Posted 1/26/06)
- Jewish Law on Abortion and its Implications for Stem Cell Research (Summer Shabbat Study 2007/5767, posted 8/24/07).  Should be read along with Dr. Daniel Eisenberg's "Stem Cell Research and Jewish Law" found on jlaw.com.

Biblical Studies
- Blind Faith or Rational Practice: Do Mitzvot Have Reasons, and Should We Investigate Them? (Shavuot Class 2008 on Ta'amei Hamitzvot) **New (Uploaded 6/17/08)
-
Reversal of Fortune: How the Course of History Was Changed by the Garden of Eden. A study of the text and the chiastic structure of Genesis 2:4-4:1** New (uploaded 11/24/08).

Philosophy
- A survival guide to the Jewish New Year (outline of Chovot Halevavot on repentance).
- Desire: Temptation Toward Evil or Inspiration For Good (Slichot Discussion 9/8/07) **New (Uploaded 6/17/08)

Rabbinic Literature
- The Seder in Rabbinic Literature
- Selected Rabbinic Midrash on the Book of Ruth (Shavuot class 2006, posted 6/11/06)