Kentucky Announcement Renews Discussion of Felon Voting Rights
As the country turned its attention to the Thanksgiving holiday last week, you may have missed the news of a significant development in criminal justice reform at the state level. On November 24, Kentucky Governor Steven L.
From Generation to Generation: Kindling Light Among Our Youth
This fall, the afternoons seemed darker than I remember. Family and friends also noticed that on some days, sundown seemed to come along as early as 3:30 or 4 p.m. On Thanksgiving, I even said, “We’re still three weeks from the equinox. Why does it seem so dark?”
The Secret to Engaging Jewish Youth
There’s a lot of discussion in Jewish circles about how to attract and engage youth. Synagogue leaders implore, please don’t have a b’nei mitzvah and take off – stick around and be a part of organized Jewish life.
30 Years of Aliyah From Ethiopia
By law, all Israelis over 16 years old are required to carry their ID card around, anytime, anywhere. The card is smaller than a passport. It has a blue plastic cover, embossed with a menorah, and the words "Ministry of Interior" and "Identity Card."
Writing the Torah and Honoring the Name of God
There was such joy in his voice as Rabbi Kevin Hale talked about going to the river near his house to wash himself in a mikveh (ritual bath) before writing the name of God in the Torah scroll he worked on.
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?
Parashat Mikeitz and Confronting The Past
Like Joseph’s brothers did to him, Germany once did unspeakable evil to the Jews.
Judaism and the Jedi: What Do Darth Vader and Jewish Mystics Have in Common?
“It’s true. All of it: The Dark Side, the Jedi. They’re real.”
These are the first words we hear from Han Solo, the former smuggler and member of the Rebel Alliance, in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
It’s been almost 40 years since the original Star Wars film hit the big screen, but its stories in the theater, books, television, video games, and other media highlight themes that continue to resonate with us today.
In particular, the Star Wars mythology can be understood through a Jewish lens.
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.
Creating Opportunities for Every Teen to Matter
More than four decades after his own tentative step into the world of the Reform Movement's youth programs, Rabbi Michael White reflects on what we can do to inspire and empower today's teens.