How Jewish Communities Can Help One Another After a Suicide
Adolescent suicide is on the rise in the United States, and data indicates that suicide is a communicable disease, with one spurring others. No community is exempt: Suicide impacts our congregations, our clergy, and our camps.
Communal Aid: How to Ensure No One Falls Through the Cracks
When we made aliyah in 1990, arriving at Shorashim, the community was a moshav sheetufi, a commune of 30 families. The economy was similar to a kibbutz – all salaries, whether from communal businesses or from work “outside,” went to the common bank account; each family received a house to live in and a monthly allowance based on family size. But not anymore.
5 Jewish Ways to Help After Hurricane Harvey
Recovery for a storm of this magnitude will take months, if not years. We are working hard to provide resources to affected families, and we encourage you to do the same.
What's in a (Jewish) Name?
Our family rejected one name’s legacy of slavery for another’s possible intimation of anti-Semitism. It was a small, quiet act of brit olam, our vision for a world filled with justice and compassion.
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.
Shabbat in Netanya, Israel: The Israeli Judaism We Need
This is liberal Judaism on the edge: Flinging doors open wide to those who would otherwise be left behind. The community is a voice of Judaism that is open to all who seek it.
How the Reform Movement is Responding to Hurricane Harvey
We are now starting to get accurate reports of the damage – and they are staggering. Building on our initial response, here are a few new developments and details.
Why Shabbat Is the Opposite of Busy, and Five Ways to Get in on It
"Busy." It’s a word that rolls off my tongue with such ease that it scares me. Being busy – overscheduled and overcommitted while deeply resenting this state of being – takes a great toll on my physical, psychological, and spiritual wellness. And I'm not alone. Busy has become emblematic of success in our 21st-century society -- and yet, more than ever, people are exhausted, burned out, and desperately seeking refuge from their everyday existence.
What Is Jewish About Japan?
My family and I recently spent time backpacking through Japan. Witnessing people at their holy sites, we were struck by how familiar their customs were to us as Jews.