Larry Kaufman, z"l

Laurence (Larry) Kaufman, z"l, was a member of Beth Emet, the Free Synagogue, in Evanston IL, where he coached b'nai mitzvah candidates on their divrei Torah. A long-time Reform Movement activist, he served on the North American Board of Union for Reform Judaism, the North American Council of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, the Board of ARZA, and was a past president of Temple Sholom of Chicago. In retirement, he consulted with an Israeli technology company on its U.S. public relations and marketing communications.

Building a Serious Jewish Library

Larry Kaufman, z"l

A young friend and former student of mine recently asked her Facebook network for suggestions as to what books she ought to buy as first steps in building a serious Jewish library. Although her request welcomed the nerdy, I have striven to recommend for a
Torah Study

How to Write a D'var Torah

Larry Kaufman, z"l
A d’var Torah (a word of Torah) is a talk or essay based on the parashah (the weekly Torah portion). Especially at times of loneliness, distress, indecision or other personal difficulties, you may find it helpful to read and interpret the Torah portion with a particular focus on how the thoughts and actions of our foremothers and forefathers—intensely human characters—might help you deal with your own challenges.

Unsung, but Better than Singer

Larry Kaufman, z"l

Hidden, or maybe not so hidden, in the New York Times and Tablet Magazine obituaries for Inna Hecker Grade is a novel about her fierce protectiveness of the literary legacy of her late husband, Yiddish novelist and poet Chaim Grade, and particularly her

Songs of the Season

Larry Kaufman, z"l

When JanetheWriter reminded her friends on Facebook, 'tis the season to be satiated with the songs of the season, I promised her I would tell my favorite White Christmas story.

When this happened, the United Nations had already voted for the establishment of a

In the Beginning...

Larry Kaufman, z"l

As an inveterate - my wife would say obsessive - participant in on-line discussions, list-servs, Facebook, and blogs, I was interested to learn in a recent thread on iWorship that not all Reform congregations follow the Torah reading protocol for Rosh Hashanah