This Tu BiShvat, May We Begin with the Trees
May each of us, at this Tu BiShvat – the New Year of the Trees – refuse to be complacent in accepting the ills and sorrows of our lives.
How the Supermarket Reminds Me Tu BiShvat is Coming
In my past life as a cantor in Los Angeles, I was always facilitating the concept of “Jewish time” for others. Here in Jerusalem, it just sort of happens on its own.
Roots and Branches of the New Year of the Trees
In college, being outdoors and celebrating the natural world was an important part of my spirituality, so I sought out hints that other Jews felt the same way.
Trees and Hope: A Tu BiShvat Reflection
The wind and the smell of smoke woke us. We stumbled out of bed, joining neighbors in the cul-de-sac to stare at the red glow lighting up the hills behind our houses.
What We Can Learn from Holocaust Survivors About the Human Spirit
Following World War II, many Jews were confined to displaced persons (DPs) camps in Allied-occupied countries. Among them were my parents and parents-in-law.
Rhineland #1: A Poem for Yom HaShoah
"They know people died but nobody tells them about the worlds that were lost."
Letting Go at Auschwitz-Birkenau: Lessons from a Zen Peacemaker Retreat
As the son of Holocaust survivors, I ruled out the possibility of ever visiting a concentration camp. Doing so would be emotionally off the charts.
How a New Ceremony Changed My View of Yom HaShoah
Yom HaShoah is typically a somber time to reflect, and for me personally, to be angry at the world. Last year, however, was different.
Sharing the Human Experience of Holocaust Remembrance Day
To make the ceremonies and reflections of Holocaust Remembrance Day meaningful, there must be ways it informs our decisions as Jews and as human beings all year long.
Remembering the Holocaust Brings a Country Together
Yom HaShoah is a day of mourning in Israel. Many stores close, music on the radio reflects the somber nature of the day, and most amazing is the sound of the siren.