Displaying 1 - 10 of 53
Habari Gani? How My Family is Melding Kwanzaa and Hanukkah Customs
As we each shared some favorite holiday memories, my partner asked, “So what does each candle of Hanukkah symbolize?” Puzzled, I asked him to explain what he meant. “You know, like for Kwanzaa.”
Update from URJ Heller High: Creating a Sacred Space at the Kotel on Rosh Chodesh
We joined Women of the Wall (WoW) for what were supposed to be services celebrated at the Kotel, the Western Wall. Unfortunately, rather than an experience in entry to sacred space, our students experienced what it means to be denied entry to sacred space.
How to Write Your Jewish Memoir
Perhaps you have a Jewish story that you’d like to tell and share with your family or temple community? If so, here are a few suggestions to help you find a way to get your story on paper.
Letting Abraham's Example Guide Us, During Election Season and Beyond
Parashat Vayeira contains some of the most well-known and controversial texts in the book of Genesis, including the Akedah. These words remind us that no matter how strongly we feel about our principles, we cannot sacrifice our fellow human beings to realize them.
Sacred Nephrology in Parashat Tzav and The Power of Two
Our Torah portion, though in a very different context, mentions pairs of kidneys as well. This week we have arrived at Parashat Tzav, meaning "command," which is part of a series of parshiyot in Leviticus outlining the laws and procedures for different sacrifices. Tzav describes (among other sacrifices) a "guilt offering," which is made as reparation for a transgression. The guilt offering divides the offering into parts that are completely burned and "turned to smoke on the altar," and the rest is meant to feed the priests. (Lev 7:6) The parts "turned to smoke" and sacrificed to God included the kidneys.
Teach (and Practice) a New Jewish Value Each Night of Hanukkah
Assign a different Jewish value each one day of Hanukkah and plan appropriate activities for your family. The idea of activities is not simply doing for doing’s sake, but doing for the sake of learning. Be sure to reflect and talk afterward!
What You Need to Know about Reform Jewish Summer Camp
Here's what you need to know about the Reform Movement's Jewish Summer Camps
5 Ways to Celebrate Israel’s Independence Day with Young Children
Here are five activities to help young children connect with Israel -- on Yom HaAtzmaut and all year long.
Shabbat Message: A Galvanizing Visit to Israel That Fills Me With Encouragement
In meetings with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli, and Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid, we discussed the crisis in Ukraine, the future of the Kotel, ensuring more funding and rights for non-Orthodox Jews, combatting racism, and stopping extremist violence against Palestinians, in addition to other pressing issues.
Uniting Our Congregations
Even when our congregations consist of members with a broad range of political perspectives, there tends to be a preponderance of attitudes in a particular direction. This often leads to those in the minority feeling alienated from synagogue life. While this might happen in either direction, in my congregation, as in most URJ congregations, the members tend to be more politically liberal, in correlation with a more progressive religious viewpoint. This correlation is not perfect, however, and a minority of members are politically conservative.