Displaying 1 - 10 of 19
A Jewish Family's Unique Fourth of July Tradition
Every year on the Fourth of July, my mother and stepfather host about 50 people, newborns to retirees, at a multigenerational backyard party at their home in suburban New Jersey. We schmooze around the grill, cool off in the pool or with a beer, and shuck corn on the cob. My sister Barrie makes an American flag berry cake, and my sister Cheryl makes a cake that looks like a hamburger. Fireworks light the night sky. It’s all typical Independence Day stuff. But we also do something unique that I wish were more universal: We mindfully read aloud the Declaration of Independence.
Putting Down Roots: Why Our Jewish Family Needs a Yard Full of Trees
We celebrated the holiday of Tu BiShvat – the “Jewish Arbor Day” – way back in February, and we won’t celebrate it again until January. But no matter: I need to talk about the trees now.
7 Ways to Celebrate Tu BiShvat – Even in the Winter
For many of us, Tu BiShvat, the Jewish holiday that celebrates trees and the earth, falls in the middle of the coldest, snowiest part of the year. Nonetheless, here are seven ways you can celebrate the new year of the trees and planet Earth
Pandemic Passover, Take Two: The Long Journey through the Wilderness
Last Passover began the urgent quest to reinvent much of Jewish life, highlighting that some of the ways we “do” Judaism needed to be updated. This year has been a powerful catalyst to shifts in how we perform our holy work.
Lessons from Charoset During a Year of Pandemic
As we enjoy this year’s sweet charoset, let us cherish and express our gratitude for the essential workers, medical professionals, everyday heroes, and others who provided the sweetness that helped temper the bitters we tasted this year.
This New Reform Haggadah Combines Liturgy, Poetry, and Art
The Central Conference for American Rabbis (CCAR) has published a brand new Haggadah. Mishkan HaSeder combines traditional liturgy with an array of contemporary poetry, as well as abstract illustrations that provide readers with something unique to glean from its pages.
Protecting the Right of Public Protest: RAC-FL’s 2021 Legislative Campaign
This legislative session, members of the Florida legislature are working to pass legislation that will chill free speech and assembly by threatening to criminalize peaceful public protest. The bill would intimidate and punish peaceful protesters.
The Dual Reckoning of Pesach: Don't Be Brutal, Don't Be Naive
The fact that in every generation some individuals and groups rise to try and destroy us, as we sing, does not give us carte blanche permission and justification to act brutally ourselves – as every Israeli soldier knows.