The Gates are Closing, and God’s Hand is Outstretched
The N’ilah service on late Yom Kippur afternoon is notable for its image of the Gates of Repentance closing their doors. At this late and hungry hour, for the final time during the Day of Atonement, we are summoned to repentance. The fact that many Sages argue we can actually delay ou
N’ilah: The Concluding Service on Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is the only day in the traditional Jewish liturgical year to have five services: in addition to the usual four shared with Shabbatot, Festivals, and Rosh Hashanah (evening, morning, Musaf, and afternoon1), Yom Kippur has a concluding service called 
The Music of Yizkor
Eighteen years ago, when I first led Yizkor on Yom Kippur at my current synagogue, I admit to having been startled by an exodus from the pews.
Yom Kippur: Seder Ha’avodah
More than any other biblical mo’ed (appointed time), Yom Kippur is pre-eminently a Temple-based observance. True, all Israelites were to fast on that day, but the ritual described in Leviticus 16 is exclusively focused on the Temple. It is about the purgation and pu
What People with Disabilities (and Their Families) Wish Their Rabbis Knew
As a Jewish professional dedicated to issues of disability inclusion and awareness, I’m all about solutions. When I read this article, I wanted to yell, “This is exactly the type of piece that must be required reading in our seminaries!”
Letter from Jerusalem: Trump, Netanyahu, and the Fight for Tolerance
As we Israelis wait on outcomes from today’s meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, we cannot let growing incitement and discrimination remain the new normal in Israel.
10 Vital Jewish Resources on Disability Awareness and Inclusion
Halfway through Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month, here are some of the many stories, ideas, and resources that have resulted from this important awareness effort.
What I Learned From Visiting With Cuba’s Jews
Recently, I traveled to Cuba on a Jewish mission. Although I’d prepped, I was unprepared for how the trip would affect my self-perception as a Jew.
Apply for a Belin Award to Showcase Your Audacious Hospitality
Audacious Hospitality, a pillar of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), is based on the belief that when we welcome and incorporate fully the diversity that is a reality of modern Jewish life, we create a stronger, more vibrant Jewish community. Indeed, congregations of all sizes throughout the URJ promote audacious hospitality with creative, original, and outstanding initiatives that welcome seekers and engage prospective and current members.
If this sounds like your congregation, apply for a Belin Award!