Celebrating Rosh Chodesh in Your Congregation
Rosh Chodesh means “head of the month.” When the new moon appears, the first of each Jewish month begins. In contemporary practice, Rosh Chodesh celebrations begin theShabbat before the new month with the Rosh Chodesh prayer at the conclusion of the Torah reading.
This Month in The Tent: Resources for the High Holidays and Beyond
As congregations gear up for the start of 5776 and a new year of activities, programming, and policies and procedures, these conversations in The Tent, the URJ’s online communication and collaboration forum, may prove particularly helpful in planning for the High Holiday season and beyond.
Why Avinu Malkeinu is So Important After the Year We've Had
Every summer, I go through the same routine.
How Meditation is Preparing Me for the High Holidays
In June, I saw a post in a local Facebook group that intrigued me: "Stop! Take a break! Join us for Group Meditation in the City."
What Makes a Dessert Jewish?
I’m a big fan of a monthly magazine called Our State, all about North Carolina – a wonderful home for our family for 16 years. Their cover last February set up the challenge "Pie vs. Cake."
How the Yom Kippur After Hurricane Katrina Changed Me Forever
“On Rosh HaShanah, the year’s decree is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed, who will live and who will die…”
Tipping the Scales: Returning to Germany for the Days of Awe
One of my most precious possessions is a copy of the Talmudic tractate Kiddushin printed in Munich in 1946 on presses once used for Nazi propaganda.
Home is Where the Jewish Community Is
Nothing is more intimidating than leaving your comfort zone, facing a mix of new people, routines, and cultures – especially when you're doing it alone. I’ll never forgot how it felt when I left for college, a New York girl heading to school in the Midwest.
4 Ideas for Engaging Families with Young Children in Jewish Life
Every new parent understands the pressure and stress associated with finding the best ways to create a rich and fulfilling future for their children.
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