Blog
For Some of Us the Holidays Are Just…Hard
As we head into the holiday season, I am acutely aware of how much different this year is going to be than previous ones. I will be celebrating without my mom for the first time. My mother died in January 2021, and I'm still dealing with the unexpected waves of grief that wash over me, sometimes out of nowhere. As I head into this first winter holiday season without her, I'm not quite sure I know what to expect, other than everything is going to be very different.
Enjoy A Crockpot Shabbat
Slow cooking is nothing new. The Sephardi stew adefina dates back to the Spanish Inquisition, and cholent (another Shabbat stew) is thought to also have roots in Spain.
The Cost of Free Land
When I was a child growing up in the 1980s, the story I learned about Thanksgiving followed the classic script: it highlighted amity between the Pilgrims and their Indigenous neighbors. Due to this connection, the hunger of the European settlers was met with squash and turkey.
Ten Things We Say When We Talk About Antisemitism
Jews have had thousands of conversations about antisemitism over the past years, especially after October 7th. The following list summarizes the ideas that arise most often in these discussions.
Putting the “Serve” Back in "Deserve"
As the Jewish community grapples with fears of our eroding security in post-10/7 America, nobody wants to consider the question of whether we have enjoyed that security up to this point by right or by debt.
What Pregnancy Taught Me About Being a Cantor
Singing during pregnancy is not without challenges, to say the least. Our bodies go through an amazing transformation during pregnancy, and many of them affect the voice.
Kinship in Crisis in Jesse Eisenberg's New Movie
Fresh off winning an Emmy for his portrayal of Roman Roy in the hit HBO series "Succession," Kieran Culkin finds himself playing another motormouthed man child at the center of Jesse Eisenberg's "A Real Pain."
Is it Okay to Seek Joy?
In "Seeking Joy," on view at the Heller Museum at HUC-JIR/New York through June 26, 2025, over 50 artists share moments of happiness they have experienced.
Teens Make Their Voices Heard by Voting
On November 5, Americans across the country will head to the polls to ensure their voices are heard and their votes are counted. The 2024 election will be historic for many reasons, but there is one group for whom this election will be particularly special: first-time voters.
From the Sukkah to the Voting Booth: A Reform Jewish Call to Action
As we celebrate the joyous holiday of Sukkot and approach election day, we are reminded of the importance of shelter, community, and social justice. The sukkah, a temporary dwelling, symbolizes our vulnerability and dependence on others. It's a powerful metaphor for the interconnectedness of our society and the impact of our actions on our broader community.