Galilee Diary: Why is This Night Different?
"Tu" (the Hebrew abbreviation of 15th) in the month of Shvat was set (Hillel's opinion generally overrules Shammai's) as the beginning of the tithable year for tree fruit: Calculating the tithe on fruit starts again for fruit that sets after that date.
Happy Tu BiShvat: Environmental Responsibility in the Berkshires
Planting and Parenting: The Lessons of Tu BiShvat
Here is the quintessential Jewish question: How do we emulate God? We are told that we were created by God. We are told that we have a divine spark within us.
It’s Hard to be a Jew at Christmas, But Even Harder on Tu BiSh’vat
It is a truth universally acknowledged that it can be difficult to be Jewish at Christmas time. It has seeped into North American cultural consciousness so thoroughly that South Park even wrote a song about it, complete with trademark expletives.
8 Books to Give as Gifts This Hanukkah
Looking for a good book to give your favorite bibliophile this Hanukkah? Staff of the Union for Reform Judaism recommend a few of their favorites, whether classics or new, that would make for great gifts. What would you add to the list?
Hanukkah Debuts in 19th-Century America
When German Jews arrived in the United States in the middle of the 19th century, they devoted scant time to Hanukkah and directed more attention to Christmas.
The Best Hanukkah Parody Songs of the Year
It’s that time of the year again – time for Hanukkah parody videos! We’ve gathered a few of the best new debuts from across the web. Leave us a comment and let us know: What’s your favorite?
How Many More? A Reflection on Yet Another Mass Shooting
Whether or not there will be another shooting just a few days from now is not even up for debate. Call it pessimism, cynicism, or fatalism, but the undeniable truth of the situation is not a question of "if" but of "when."
How I Follow the Maccabees' Lead at Hanukkah
What could be a more fitting commemoration of Hanukkah than promoting dialogue about the value of respecting the boundary between religious practice and public life?
The Human in Every Stranger
Our unique priority as the Reform Movement is to practice and lead audacious hospitality. To do this work with impact we need to remember our youth are often our teachers.