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.
It’s vital to know the origins and evolution of Jewish rituals and customs. Only then can we make informed choices about what meaning, if any, they hold for us today.
Tu B’Av – a minor Jewish holiday often understood to be the Jewish equivalent to Valentine’s Day – celebrates the love we give and receive in our lives.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s remember that caring for each other is an integral Jewish value and no one should feel alone, especially when facing strife.
One of my friends, Sam, is 5-years-old. Despite his age, I think he genuinely understands that becoming a bar mitzvah is an important moment in a Jewish person’s life.
As the blast of the shofar awakens our souls this High Holiday season, so, too, can it awaken us to the pleas of people who suffer with mental illness.