An Atheist’s Continued Shabbat Traditions
Someone new recently joined my weekly atheist meet-up group, so the subject came up again: What was your former religion? When and why did you stop believing?
Saying “Yes” to a Different Kind of Shabbat
It’s Shabbat morning. The air is clear and cold, but the sun is shining, without a cloud in the sky. I’m standing on a hill, looking down at a farm; a few hawks circle overhead.
Trapped by Tradition: A Review of Award-Winning Israeli Film "Gett"
In the riveting courtroom drama Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem, the titular character is not the only one on trial.
Gender Expression isn’t a Purim Costume
On Purim, many people will cross-dress and dress up as someone of a different gender. This year, rethink it.
The Adult Issues - and Lessons - of Purim
During the 40 years that I served as a congregational rabbi, Purim evolved from a pleasant celebration into what has become, in my view, almost a third High Holiday.
Gay Pride in Israel: Tel Aviv Hosts Global LGBT Leadership Conference
Seated around one half of a large table in a meeting room were members of the Knesset and their representatives from every political party except for the ultra-Orthodox. Filling out the table were a dozen transgender teenagers and their adult leaders.
Israelis Are Among the Happiest People in the World... No Joke!
Here's something that you probably don’t know about Israel: Israelis are very happy. In fact, they are among the happiest people in the world – far happier than Americans, and a bit happier than Canadians.
100 Years After WWI, Its Effect on Reform Judaism is Still Felt
By August 1915, World War I was raging in the most densely Jewish areas of Polish and Lithuanian Russia on the dreaded Eastern Front. On the Western Front, the fields of Belgium's Flanders region were soaked with Allied and Central Powers blood.
A Life-Changing Question: For Whom Are We Responsible?
Before leaving for 10 of the most memorable days of my life with Mitzvah Corps Costa Rica, Rabbi Asher Knight left my fellow participantds and me with an important question to consider throughout our trip: For whom ar