What's Wrong With Ethnic Jokes?
When I was an undergraduate, I spent a semester abroad in Germany. I was there, of course, to learn German: that was the express purpose of the trip. But I also had felt a need to go there to find out whether Germans were a different kind of people.
A Math Formula Can "Carry a Charge of Love"
Judaism is filled with ritualized counting. From the seven ordered days of creation, to the repetition of forty throughout the Tanach (Hebrew Bible), to God's exhortation to Abraham to "count the stars, if you can count them…" Currently, we are in the midst of counting the Omer, the days from Passover to Shavuot.
For California Students, a Frightening "Debate" About the Holocaust
My mother is a survivor of Auschwitz. She lost her entire family there. The Holocaust is a tragedy that has been a major factor in my life, one that has driven my push for social justice.
Lag BaOmer Bonfires: A Warning Sign of Hatred
What makes this holiday a favorite among secular Israelis, while it is almost forgotten by Jewish kids in the Diaspora?
Why do Jewish Holidays Begin at Night?
On the Jewish calendar, holidays begin in the evening, at sundown, and they continue through the next day.
Why do we observe Lag BaOmer with bonfires?
Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer.
A New Jewish Initiative Will Stand Up for Immigrant and Refugee Justice
On the eve of Yom HaShoah, the Kraus Family Foundation and the Union for Reform Judaism announced a new initiative to galvanize people to action around the immigration and refugee crisis in the U.S.
Yom HaShoah: When Will Senseless Hatred Be a Thing of the Past?
On Yom HaShoah, I will attend a ceremony at Yad Vashem. While it would be good to hear Israeli leaders talk about anti-Semitism in the past tense, I doubt it will happen.
The Soap Myth: A Conversation with Playwright Jeff Cohen
The Soap Myth, a new play about Holocaust denial, stars Ed Asner and Tovah Feldshuh.
7 Ideas for Observing Yom HaShoah This Year
Here are just a few of the many stories, prayers, and other resources to help you commemorate this solemn holiday.