I’m going to be honest with you all. This was the first year I ever celebrated Lag BaOmer. And in complete and full disclosure, I didn’t even really know what it was for most of my life. But this year, …
This past month, the world watched as the Catholic Church elected a new pope, Pope Leo XIV. It was a momentous occasion not only for Catholics, but for all people who recognize the profound global influence of the papacy. As …
In the Hebrew calendar, today is the 14th of Iyar. If this was bar trivia night at your local synagogue, you could earn major points if you knew the name of the holiday that takes place today. No, it’s not …
Dear Friends,
The director of the Mordecai M. Kaplan Center, which is dedicated to preserving and advancing the ideas of Reconstructionism’s founder, recently invited me to participate in a webinar to reflect on the values of Rabbi Kaplan that have …
As the warmth of spring reinvigorates our world with new buds and leaves, our “Back to Our Roots” curriculum begins a new stage of growth. Thanks to a microgrant from the UJA and The Jewish Education Project, this fall, Gan …
When I first learned of beloved actor Val Kilmer’s passing at age 65, after a long battle with throat cancer, I sat down with Sarah to watch his most Jewish portrayal among decades of memorable film roles: Nick Rivers. Wait …
We are in the midst of counting the Omer, the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot—a sacred stretch of time that bridges our collective story of liberation with our receiving of Torah. Each evening, we pause and mark another day …
Dear Friends:
A nasty cold set me back both in preparing my house for Pesach and for filing this year’s tax return. I try to get my taxes ready for my patient accountant no later than mid-March, but this year, …
Jewish philanthropy emphasizes the responsibility of the community to care for its members and those in need, both locally and globally. So where better to give, than to give to our own community.
Jewish fundraising is often viewed as a …
On the journey through our ancestral family’s story in the Book of Genesis this year, the sixth graders and I dig deep into jealousy, rage, loyalty, trust, love, and faith-it’s the best. Last week we made it to a pivotal …
