Religious Education
Editor's Note: This piece was originally published on January 13, 2011, immedately following the death of beloved Jewish musician Debbie Friedman, z"l. Today, on the ninth anniversary of her death, we share it with you again. How did Debbie Friedman's music impact your life? We'd love to hear from you in the comment section below. Singer Debbie Friedman helped me find something I often lacked during childhood and young adulthood. She helped me discover a love for my faith and the beauty and meaning of many prayers. I saw Debbie in concert just once. I had no idea who she was, having... Read More
I love Tot Shabbat. I’ve written before about how excited my wife and I are to bring our daughter into the world of Reform Judaism and expose her to its values. Tot Shabbat represents her first opportunity to take a step forward and create her own version of Judaism. For the uninitiated, Tot Shabbat is a Friday or Saturday program series for families with children up to about age 6 that incorporates music and movement to introduce the history, values, and traditions of Judaism to a new generation. It brings the Shabbat experience alive in a fun and engaging way. But let’s be real... Read More
Where do I find a minyan (the quorum of 10 Jews required for public prayer) in Disneyland when I need to say Mourner's Kaddish for my father? Outside It’s a Small World, after all! There, my students ensured I had a community for Kaddish. My wife Michelle and I were chaperoning Congregation Or Ami’s seventh graders on a post-Shul-In trip to Disneyland to celebrate the beginning of the school year and the start of our new teen program. Although I knew it would be challenging to find a minyan for Kaddish, I wanted to be with our pre-teens. I hoped, as the saying... Read More
How do we prepare our children for success in a new year of learning? The start of a new school year always brings with it both excitement and, perhaps, a bit of apprehension. New school supplies, new backpacks, new shoes, and new clothes dominate the retail environment as early as July. You might dispatch the ubiquitous supply list online or at brick-and-mortar stores. You might unlock a parenting badge for completing a mountain of forms. You might set up an Instagram-worthy first-day-of-school photograph. But how can you, as a parent, also infuse this time with meaning and with the... Read More
Although time often seems to pass by at lightning speed, we are still in the middle of summer, so I hope you’re relaxing, getting some (but not too much) sun, having fun with family and friends, and eating your fill of ice cream – which can make any day feel like a vacation! (My family and I know this statement is true because we ate it every day during our visit to Cape Cod earlier this season.) This year, as always, the High Holidays will arrive right on time – on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. On the Gregorian calendar, though, we consider them “late,” since Rosh HaShanah... Read More
Subscribe to 
