Trans Day of Visibility is Just a Start
For a community relentlessly targeted by hateful legislation, this year’s Transgender Day of Visibility (celebrated on March 31) holds a heightened sense of urgency. I am ashamed to say that this day wasn’t even on my radar until I had a personal stake in it, but it now holds a special place of significance in my family.
How Many Times
Rick Lupert wrote a poem about the current Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Affirming and Loving Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive Grandchildren
The Union for Reform Judaism, Jewish Grandparents Network, and Keshet are collaborating on a series of conversations to support grandparents and other loving adults who are interested in providing affirming spaces for gender expansive, non-binary, and transgender young people. These sessions provide grandparents with foundational knowledge, shared language, and inclusive practices.
Spotlighting this Year's Jewish Nominees at the Oscars
With the 94th Academy Awards ceremony just days away, it's time to check in on the state of the various Oscar races and which Jewish nominees stand the best chance of taking home a statue.
Join the Fast For Ukraine
This Wednesday, March 16, we are joining with many organizations to encourage Jews everywhere, to join together in the spirit of the Fast of Esther by demonstrating solidarity with the people of Ukraine. One of the many ways you might do this is by fasting.
B'nai MItzvah (Bar and Bat Mitzvah) Tutoring: Pandemic Style
After two years of teaching remotely and watching far too many movies and television series on Netflix on the same computer screen I use to interact with these students, I wonder if I feel less connected to these "virtual" students than the hundreds of young people I taught in person over the past decades.
Facing the Foolish King: How Queen Esther Vanquished Misinformation
Whispering into the ears of the foolish king, our calculating villain puts his fiendish plan into action. This is the moment he has been waiting for. Nothing less than perfect acceptance can launch his heinous plot.
Shabbat Message: A Galvanizing Visit to Israel That Fills Me With Encouragement
In meetings with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli, and Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid, we discussed the crisis in Ukraine, the future of the Kotel, ensuring more funding and rights for non-Orthodox Jews, combatting racism, and stopping extremist violence against Palestinians, in addition to other pressing issues.
When the Queen Says No
I had been wanting to write about Queen Vashti for a while. A big part of my rabbinate and my writing focuses on uplifting the stories of women in the biblical narrative, especially those who do not get enough attention.
Responding to the Crisis in Ukraine
As Russia's vicious attack on Ukraine continues, we feel anger, pain, and a desire to act. Here are some steps you can take to support the Ukrainian people, including the Progressive Jewish community.