Rabbi P.J. Schwartz

Rabbi P.J. Schwartz is the rabbi educator at Congregation Shir Hadash in Los Gatos, CA. He is married to his college sweetheart, Michelle, a special education teacher.

Israeli Flags for the Jewish Holidays of Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut
Israel

How to Make Israel Independence Day a Sacred Day

Rabbi P.J. Schwartz
Intrinsically linked to Israel's war of independence against the countries that surround her, Yom HaAtzmaut symbolizes the belief that by standing strong, the state of Israel will persevere for all time.
Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut

Nothing is Given on a Silver Platter

Rabbi P.J. Schwartz

History demonstrates that the events of the Holocaust served as an impetus for the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.  For this reason, Israel’s civil calendar first acknowledges Yom HaShoah, which commemorates those whose lives were lost during the

blurred candles against a black background
Yom HaShoah

Yom HaShoah: The Remembrance of Many

Rabbi P.J. Schwartz
Yom HaShoah challenges the covenantal relationship between God and the Jewish people, forcing us to question God's presence in our lives, to struggle with the reality that our world remains filled with inequality, and to vow "Never again."
Rosh HaShanah

Rosh Hashanah – A Personal Reflection

Rabbi P.J. Schwartz

My earliest memories of the High Holy Day season, in particular Rosh HaShanah, involve me as a child sneaking out of services to use the restroom, only to find myself spending the remainder of the service with my brother in the child care room. During the