Sermons

One of the strangest, most difficult and at times most exciting responsibilities of being a rabbi is preparing and delivering a sermon. It is a strange form of communication, almost completely “one way,” with little opportunity for the congregation to respond or for the rabbi to know how it was received. The blank sheet of paper before beginning to write is so daunting: what should I talk about? What should I say about it? How should I say it? But looking back now over forty years of sermons, I realize that being required to stand up in front of the congregation and open my mouth and speak has forced me to think deeply about my own life, Judaism, and our world. Below are many recent sermons and some of the sermons from the past which capture important moments in my life, or the life of our community or the world.

Steve Cohen Steve Cohen

Backpacking and Braver Angels

May 13, 2022

The temptation is so strong to withdraw, to listen only to music on the radio, and to have nothing to do with the brawling, the name calling, the derision and contempt and demonization that have become the norms in our political discourse. I’m so tired of it. And yet, here we are, trying to create something together.

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Steve Cohen Steve Cohen

Singing with the Birds

May 8, 2020

I felt a huge wave of sadness wash over me, as I watched everyone on the screen and heard only myself.  That was such a lonely moment, and I thought I don’t know if I can sustain this for months and months and months.  If I can’t find people to sing with, I’ll go crazy! Then I went out to my backyard and sat quietly and listened to the birds, and slowly realized that I was surrounded by living, singing, praying voices.   

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Steve Cohen Steve Cohen

Calling Santa Barbara Home

March 4, 2016

For thirty years I have lived here in Santa Barbara without curiosity about local history.  Without learning the names of the Channel Islands.  Without knowing the names of the wildflowers.  With no sense that this place might have a claim on me….that I could live here and be at home.  Now, my father has died and my mother is talking about moving to Boston, to be close to my sister.  Rochester is slipping away from me.   If I want a home, somewhere on this earth, it looks like it will have to be Santa Barbara.  How do we make a place home? 

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Steve Cohen Steve Cohen

The John Muir Trail

August 30, 2013

Upon returning from 3 weeks in the wilderness

Marian and I went on our own exodus journey. We were far away from all human civilization: no cars, virtually no human structures, no roads….deep, deep into the wilderness….if we had needed to get out, it would have taken us two long days to walk out.

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Steve Cohen Steve Cohen

The Stars

August 10, 2012

But as long as it was still Shabbat, I had permission…in fact I was commanded…not to work.  Shabbat offers that liberation to anyone suffering from the pace of modern life. So, having nothing that I needed to do, I went to my bookshelf and pulled off a book I had bought years ago, but never read, titled The Stars: A New Way to See Them, by H.A. Rey….and began to read.

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