Aaron Benson, at The Blogs

Aaron Benson

May 20, 2026, 9:18 AM

A Proud Judaism is the Response to Islamophobia

As Jews we must condemn attacks like those we saw at the San Diego Islamic Center the other day in the strongest terms. I certainly condemn them as an affront to God, Jewish values, and our social compact as...

Mar 1, 2026, 6:19 AM

Iran War: The Man Who is the Adversary and Enemy!

On Monday night we will celebrate Purim, the story of the brave Queen Esther and her bravery which saved the Jews of Persia from destruction. When she reveals her Jewish identity to the King and accuses Haman, the evil...

Jan 9, 2026, 11:02 PM

Moses, Minneapolis, & Not Fearing the Truth

I feel like Moses this week. In Parshat Shemot, at seeing the strange bush on fire but not burning and then hearing and feeling the presence of God, the Torah tells us, “At this, Moses hid his face, because...

Sep 26, 2025, 8:52 AM

Do Not Delay: The Voice of the Captives Cries Out

My Friends, We stand in the Days of Awe, trembling before the Judge of all the earth. We cry out: “Avinu Malkeinu, have mercy upon us.” But what if God were to answer: “Have you had mercy upon My children...

May 1, 2025, 9:20 AM

What US Jews Should Remember Today, Celebrate Tomorrow

If we Jews wanted, we could have a reason to mourn everyday. The great scholar Leopold Zunz was not wrong in describing ours as a "lachrymose history." And yet, we Jews don't fast and don sackcloth and sprinkle ashes...

Apr 18, 2025, 10:27 PM

Hardening a Pharaoh’s Heart

In my experience as a rabbi, calling someone out from the pulpit usually goes - poorly. The one and only time I thought to do it, the person I was addressing, let's just say, didn't appreciate the lesson about teshuvah...

Aug 2, 2024, 8:21 AM

The Lapidation of Josh Shapiro?

I'm old enough to remember (not to mention being old enough to say things like, "I'm old enough to remember) when Al Gore introduced Joseph Lieberman as his running mate, how moving it was that in his remarks, Lieberman...

Jul 25, 2023, 6:43 AM

Generations of Tears Quench Baseless Hatred

"Tears shed in vain are established for generations. For it was brought about by the Lord. On this night my children weep and wail." These are words from B'leil zeh Yivkayun, "On this Night Weep," one of the kinnot,...

Jul 15, 2023, 12:41 AM

Know the Stops: Matot Masei

No doubt many of you have been or will be on vacation sometime this summer. These family times together often produce the fondest of family memories – even when things don’t go perfectly. When we look back, the pictures...

Jul 8, 2023, 2:27 AM

Pinchas and Tevye

Pinchas is probably my favorite character in the Torah. If I could have gotten away with it, one of my boys would have been Phineas in English and Pinchas in Hebrew. The Hebrew would have been okay, but I...

About Me

Aaron Benson is a Conservative rabbi on Long Island, serving at the North Shore Jewish Center. He is the current president of the Suffolk County Board of Rabbis and a chaplain for the Suffolk County Police Department.

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