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?
My Jewish Manic Episode
Mania can be challenging. Normally, it’s fairly easy to act properly and lawfully. But when much of your brain is malfunctioning, it can be difficult, if not impossible.
Oscar-Nominated Short Film Remembers 1939's Massive Nazi Rally in NYC
The Oscar-nominated short film A Night at the Garden is a documentary short about a massive pro-Nazi rally that happened in Madison Square Garden 80 years ago this week.
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.
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.
One Year After Parkland: Prayers, Service, Love, Action
One year after the tragedy, we also want to lift up the memories of the 17 people killed and encourage Reform Jews to engage in tikkun olam, repairing the world, in their honor.
Changing One Person's Mind Can Help to Change the World
In eighth grade, I finally came to terms with my LGBTQ identity. A year later, standing outside our synagogue on a Friday night, I came out to my twin brother.
How the Jewish Community Can Lead on the Issue of Mental Health
In April 2015, when I was 15 years old, I learned that my grandfather had taken his own life after fighting with anxiety and depression for many years.
Cultivating a Culture of Inclusion: April Baskin's Remarks to the URJ Biennial 2017
As the Vice President of Audacious Hospitality, I deeply believe that every person should have a community where they feel fully supported and unconditionally accepted. One they can count on to be there for them over the course of their lives.