The Hidden History of "I Have a Little Dreidel"
Samuel E. Goldfarb penned “I Have a Little Dreidel”, while his older brother composed “Shalom Aleichem.” To use a Christian equivalent, it would be like having one brother write “Jingle Bells” and another compose “Silent Night.”
Forgiveness and Reconciliation with the Past
Many years ago, I taught an adult education class on biblical heroes. Among those we studied was Joseph. We focused on Parashat Mikeitz and discussed Joseph’s contentious relationship with his older brothers and their later reconciliation.
Dulce de Manzana (Apple Preserves)
How Our Son Put the Mitzvah in His Bar Mitzvah
We spent two hours doing a mitzvah project together before our synagogue social hall was transformed from an assembly line into a festive New Year’s Eve party.
8 Jewish Stories to Read About the Charlottesville Rally
During Shabbat, our day of rest, terrible events took place in Charlottesville, VA. A "Unite the Right" protest organized by the alt-right turned bloody, violent, and ultimately deadly.
What It's Like to Be a Maccabee in Maine
My sisters and I grew up in Central Maine, where my family was one of a small handful of Jewish families scattered in this remote, wooded corner of the diaspora.
A Chilling Portrait of Bigotry: Hate Crime Murders Reach Record High in 2019
6 New Hanukkah Kids' Books to Help Enlighten the Holiday
From a new audio version of "Hanukkah Bear" — a holiday favorite by National Jewish Book Award winner Eric A. Kimmel — to a novel for young teens set during the Festival of Lights, there is a fresh crop of Hanukkah books that are sure to delight young readers of all stripes.
There Is “No” Other
When I am preparing a family for the funeral of a loved one, we meet privately to recite the phrase Baruch Dayan HaEmet, "Blessed is the True Judge," as we put a tear in the black k'riah ribbons of mourning. We acknowledge that saying the words and hearing the sound are harsh.
Precious Gems: Experiencing the Best Choral Music Our Tradition Has to Offer
Ever get an earworm, a song that keeps popping into your head again and again?