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William Hamilton

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Jul 3, 2026, 5:44 PM

“With nothing left to be done in the way of building up, he would set boldly to the task of pulling down.” A 29-year-old Abraham Lincoln spoke these words in Springfield, Illinois to a 62-year-old nation in 1838. He...

Jun 26, 2026, 6:18 PM

When, if ever, did the Children of Israel follow God lovingly, like newlyweds to their homeland? “I lovingly recall the devotion of your youth” Jeremiah nostalgically remembers (Jer. 2:2). So, given their rebellious norms, when exactly do we find...

Jun 19, 2026, 5:46 PM

Confronting a Conspiracy Theory

Rebels attack Moses in this week’s portion with the most reckless verse in the Torah. “Is it not enough that you have taken us out of a land flowing with milk and honey to die from wandering while you...

Jun 12, 2026, 6:20 PM

Knowing Your Place

“Who is wise?” ask our sages. “A person who knows their place.” (Avot 6:6) This isn’t the only answer to be found in Pirke Avot. Other answers include, “Someone who learns from everyone” and “A person who foresees the...

Jun 5, 2026, 5:47 PM

An Ouch That Became Healing

“My son was actually upset with me,” Iris told us this week. Why was he upset? Because he felt less loved than his brother and sister were. Everything was harder for 20-year-old Yotam who grew up struggling with many...

May 29, 2026, 6:13 PM

Thus Shall You Bless

A tender father-son moment with Hersh appears at the end of Rachel Polin-Goldberg’s new book. Twice every Shabbat morning, Jon would cover Hersh in his Tallit for the Priestly Blessing. Jon provides a glimpse of the thousands of intimate...

Apr 24, 2026, 5:41 PM

There’s no shortage of blame in today’s world. With so much that’s wrong, it’s not surprising that there’s more than enough to go around. We blame leaders who mislead. Anyone who is careless with their responsibilities. Yes, decision-makers who...

Apr 10, 2026, 6:32 PM

What to learn from a Story

A true story. Back in the 1970s a Soviet Jew seated at a Moscow Seder table felt an urge. He recalled a fellow Jew who’d been imprisoned for secretly teaching Hebrew. His urge was to bring him a small...

Mar 27, 2026, 7:19 PM

Back to the Aspiration Business

A six-year-old child recently described the Seder’s four children like this. “There’s one who’s good. One who’s naughty. And two more who listen.” I love this take on the simple and un-asking children. It actually got me to listen...

Mar 13, 2026, 5:13 PM

Inviting Hannah Senesh To This Year’s Seder

The world knows Anne Frank. Israelis also know another young woman named Hannah Senesh. Anne once wrote that people are “truly good at heart.” Hannah, who parachuted back into 1944-Nazi Europe, “knew many people aren’t good at all and...

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About Me

Rabbi William Hamilton has served as rabbi (mara d'atra) of Kehillath Israel in Brookline, MA since 1995.