Norman S. Lipson

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Mar 4, 2022, 8:13 PM

An ongoing tension

While dipping my toes into, as of yet, unexplored areas of Torah study for me, I recently came across a fascinating teaching by Rabbi Uri of Strelisk (died 1826, Ukraine). Quoting rabbinic law, he writes: “If one letter is missing...

Sep 4, 2021, 7:46 PM

Life’s Blue Books

I have made one serious New Year’s resolution this Rosh HaShana and that is: not to make any more new year’s resolutions! I can’t count the number of times I have promised myself, aloud and even in writing, to...

Aug 1, 2021, 6:48 AM

Bread For the Hungry, Water For Those Who Thirst

Over the decades, I’ve studied countless fascinating teachings and interpretations of Torah, Jewish life and ritual, as well as theological, and not so theological concepts, and among them, innumerable stories, tales, legends, as well as several terrific songs on...

Jul 11, 2021, 12:31 AM

Puzzles and Visions

I find puzzles absolutely fascinating! Crossword puzzles, Find the Word, Jigsaw Puzzles, computer games (not the violent ones) as well as optical illusions, are great ways to exercise the mind. There is one puzzle, however, with which I and...

Jul 2, 2021, 2:06 AM

America, 2021 Over 100 years ago, the British writer, H.H. Munro, better known as Saki, wrote a short story entitled: “The Interlopers.” Though I don’t believe Saki had our time of history in mind when he wrote it, nevertheless, it’s...

Jun 13, 2021, 10:13 AM

A Jewish Wink through Time

While in Hungary a number of years ago, our Jewish walking tour of Budapest, included the inside of the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Building, built in 1904 and overlooking the Danube River. Jokingly, I asked our guide what was so...

Jun 8, 2021, 5:21 PM

‘Breathe in, breathe out’

In a crisis of self and faith, I am striving to remember that our obligation is to try and help our world, as well as ourselves, strive toward wholeness

May 26, 2021, 10:49 PM

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow A number of years ago, I watched an Israeli documentary about the Yiddish comedic team of Schumacher and Dzigan. Surviving the horrors of the Shoa, they made Aliyah in 1950, spending their remaining years keeping alive...

May 23, 2021, 11:36 PM

A Meditation During Quarantine

With great fondness, I remember growing up with the best TV cowboy show in the world: Hopalong Cassidy, proudly riding his horse, Topper. In the very early 1950s, Hopalong (Hoppie, as we his friends called him), was the personification...

Jun 15, 2020, 1:28 AM

Welcome to Israel: Two love stories

Story #1 Dinner Having just arrived in Israel, we checked into our hotel, unpacked, and headed out to walk around the area looking for the right spot to have dinner. Shosh found a small and most definitely, intimate place on...

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About Me

Rabbi Norman S. Lipson is Founding Rabbi of Temple Dor Dorim in Weston, Florida. Israel advocacy and education have been in the forefront of Rabbi Lipson's more than 50 years in the rabbinate. Having led numerous Pilgrimages to Israel, he teaches about Israel and Judaism through inter-faith and adult education programs in South Florida. A graduate of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, he holds a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is the author of two books: “How Many Memories Make a Minyan?” and “Rabbi, My Dog Ate My Shofar!” both available on Kindle Bookstore.