The Holy Privilege of Resting on Shabbat
"On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death." Exodus 35: 2
Living a Jewish Life with Autism Spectrum Disorder
My family loves winter. Just about every weekend between New Year’s and the end of February, you will find us practicing with the Montgomery County Maryland Special Olympics downhill ski team. My husband, Michael, is the head coach and my 23-year-old daughter, Sarah, is an athlete.
Engaging with the Tribe When You Don't Live Anywhere Near It
To be a Jew is to be part of a community, affectionately referred to as a “Member of the Tribe,” the People Israel. Indeed, much of Jewish life requires more than the individual: traditionally, a minyan, a group of 10 learned Jews, is considered essential to many parts of Jewish worship.
Postcards for Alec: On Shabbat, Asperger's, and Making New Friends
This post is part of #JDAMblogs, a series of blog posts throughout the Jewish community during the month of February in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness M
The Relationship Between Prayer and Your Imagination
When the words of liturgy are taken too literally, the sacred power of prayer is often lost. In his latest book, Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman offers a way worshipers can transcend the limitations imposed by language.
Why I Love the “Once-a-Year" Jews
I imagine how Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services feel to shul regulars: a fashion-show of strangers, preening, talking, walking in and out, coming late, and leaving early.
The High Holidays Tradition I Vowed Not to Repeat
Jewish law says we are to fast on Yom Kippur. This is based on the biblical law that on the Day of Atonement, “You shall afflict yourselves” (Lev.
How I Try to Create Jewish Memories for my Grandkids
What are your earliest memories of “doing Jewish”? I have a smattering of recollections from when I was 5, 6, and 7, though not much before that. Even from those years, I can only call up bits and pieces: moments, vignettes, colors, flavors.
How Baseball Can Help Us Fulfill the Call of the High Holidays
Two specific events produced more Jewish pride than anything else in the turbulent decade of the 1960s: Sandy Koufax’s refusal to pitch on Yom Kippur in 1965, and not quite two years later, the Six Day War in June
On Yom Kippur: Fast, Pray, Browse
In most ways, my observance of Yom Kippur won’t be much different than thousands of other Jews in pews across North America.
We’ll fast.
We’ll pray.
We’ll browse.