William Hamilton

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Jul 4, 2025, 5:39 PM

Stay In The Light

As July 4th pastimes and picnics take place today, dim views are plentiful regarding our country’s ethical ardor and our capacity for compromise. Many hold dim views of our history and of the motives of current leadership. It’s understandable....

Jun 27, 2025, 5:08 PM

More Human. Not Less

“It’s difficult to persuade anyone of anything when the only interest you have in them is in persuading them of something.” Tara Westover’s point seems self-evident. Still, if you’re like me, knowing this doesn’t curb your efforts to be...

Jun 20, 2025, 5:46 PM

Spiritual First Aid

“This morning at 7:04 we got word there would be ballistic missile sirens in a few minutes” wrote Deena Jacob yesterday morning. She’s a labor-and-delivery nurse at Israel’s largest southern hospital. “I ran back from a shift-change to move...

Jun 13, 2025, 2:51 PM

With Others and For Them

“There are two ways to defend your house against enemies,” said Yehuda Halevi, the 12th century sage who adored Zion. “One is to build a wall around your own house. The other is to join with your neighbors and...

Jun 6, 2025, 2:58 PM

Because of Who We Are

“That’s the thanks I get?!” Jeff was right to be furious. Some years ago he sat in my study trying to process his frustration. He’d gone out of his way to be generous with his neighbor up the road....

May 30, 2025, 5:43 PM

Once upon a time, when God created the world, God made a deal with the sea. “Many years from now” God said “my people will come to your shore. They’ll be escaping slavery and their oppressors will be chasing...

May 23, 2025, 5:18 PM

“I am a Jew.” These were the last words spoken by The Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl before his 2002 execution. I recall someone saying back then, these chosen-words said more about his killers than they may have...

May 16, 2025, 5:29 PM

Being Counted-On

“I had no choice,” a released hostage told us. A few of us were visiting with her this week in DC at a May 14 event celebrating Israel’s Independence. We’d asked “How did you manage to stay hopeful?” She quietly...

May 9, 2025, 5:27 PM

Why you can’t free yourself from your own prison cell

Here’s a favorite maxim. “A prisoner can’t free themself from from their own prison cell.” That is, someone else has to open the door for them. Assistance from the outside is always needed. As vital as self-care and self-improvement...

Apr 25, 2025, 5:24 PM

“The Prophets of the Bible called out wrongs. They held nothing back when they criticized those who misled.” A grad student had this to say to me a few years ago. He was eager to engage me in his...

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About Me

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