When I Need Support, My Summer Camp Family Is There for Me
One night at camp last summer reminded me that no matter what, I am part of a large Jewish community and my presence there matters.
Hanukkah Reconsidered: A Split in the Jewish Soul
I grew up loving this holiday – until I learned the dark side and felt like a kid discovering that there’s no Santa Claus. It turns out Hanukkah is, in part, a tale of Jew vs. Jew.
Reclaiming the Public Square with Hanukkah Lights
According to Rashi, we light Hanukkah candles to “publicize the miracle.” What exactly is the miracle we’re publicizing – and what’s the best way for us to do so today?
Best-Ever Tomato Tart
This is a taste experience that blends pizza and quiche into a savory tart that's utterly fantastic.
How to Affirm Life in the Wake of Tragedy
Our congregation dedicated a living memorial, a tree, to “keep alive” the memory of those who lost their lives to hate and violence at the Pittsburgh synagogue last fall.
Who Should Teach About Hanukkah and What Should They Be Teaching?
Now that my daughter is in preschool, I've come to realize that hearing about cultural and religious practices directly from the practitioners only emphasizes our otherness.
Science is Fun... Finally, An Overnight Camp for Me to Truly Be Me!
To be in a camp like this, these young people could be genuine in their identities as deep thinkers, curious minds, playful youth, and passionate Jews, all coalescing in the sacred space of community.
Rising Anti-Semitism in Germany: An On-the-Ground Assessment
wife and I are in Germany, so I wasn’t surprised that a few people sent me “The New German Anti-Semitism,” a story in a recent edition of the New York Times Magazine.
A Hanukkah Tradition From My Christian Mother-in-Law
Sometimes we create our own traditions, sometimes we carry on a tradition we inherit, and sometimes a tradition can come from unexpected places.
The Guest Book
Sarah Blake’s The Guest Book (Flatiron Books) spans three generations of an old-line Protestant family, the Miltons, whose manners and way of life represent what they believe to be the established and correct way of doing things.