Open Search form

David Kalb

Rabbi Kalb directs the Jewish Learning Center

Apply for a Blog

May 3, 2026, 6:29 AM

Lag B’Omer, Turn On Your Love Light!

One of my favorite songs that the Grateful Dead used to cover is “Turn On Your Love Light,” written by Joe Scott and recorded by Bobby Bland in 1961. The chorus of this composition is powerful: “Turn on your...

Feb 11, 2026, 5:00 AM

An Arson Attack on a Mississippi Synagogue—and a Community That Rises

For much of my life, Jackson, Mississippi, existed in my imagination only in country music. The name conjured the 1963 song “Jackson,” famously performed by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, though written by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry...

Oct 29, 2025, 9:55 AM

‘People hearing without listening’

The following article is based on a Drasha (Sermon) that I gave on the first day of Rosh Hashanah at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale – The Bayit, at the Explanatory Service. Please note that I have made some changes for clarity. Additionally,...

Oct 18, 2025, 12:20 AM

Joy To The World! Simcha, Joy in Our Times

The following article is based on a Drasha that I gave on the second day of Sukkot at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale – The Bayit. Please note that I have made certain changes for clarity in a written...

May 25, 2025, 11:47 PM

Shavuot and conversion, post-October 7

This Shavuot when we recite Yizkor (the memorial service), it will be over a year and half since the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023; the taking of the hostages; and the beginning of the still-ongoing...

Oct 20, 2024, 3:22 PM

Bruce Springsteen at the Shoah Foundation

On October 13th, I had the great honor of attending the USC Shoah Foundation’s Ambassador to Humanity 30th Anniversary dinner. The Shoah Foundation was founded by Steven Spielberg to record the testimony of survivors of the Holocaust. Since its...

Sep 19, 2023, 11:04 PM

Bruce Springsteen, “Land of Hope and Dreams”, Grace and Yom Kippur

Introduction: This article is based on a talk I gave at Congregation Agudath Israel in Caldwell, NJ, on Thursday, September 7, 2023. I would like to extend my gratitude to Rabbi Lucas, Susan Werk, Gayle Wieseneck, Shani Drogin, Ami Talkow, Laura...

Apr 9, 2023, 11:18 PM

The Promise Land: Passover with Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have been performing the New York Metropolitan leg of their current tour recently. I was fortunate enough to be there for three of the nights, at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan (Shabbat...

Aug 2, 2022, 6:14 PM

The Western Wall: Love and hatred

I have been in Israel for work for almost six weeks. One of the many positive aspects of my visit, has been tefilah (prayer) at the Kotel, the Western Wall, which I find very inspirational. On Friday morning July 29,...

Apr 3, 2022, 9:50 PM

Coinciding Holy Times

Rosh Chodesh (the first day of the new month) Nisan was this past Shabbat. Nisan is the month in the Hebrew calendar, where we celebrate Pesach (Passover). Pesach begins on April 15 and concludes on April 23. The entire month leading...

Load more

About Me

Rabbi David Kalb is the Director of the Jewish Learning Center, a program of Ohr Torah Stone. He is responsible for the creative, educational, spiritual, and programmatic direction of the Jewish Learning Center.

Contact Me