Habari Gani? How My Family is Melding Kwanzaa and Hanukkah Customs
Shabbat and the Blessing of Family
As a teenager in Flint, MI, most of my peers spent their Friday evenings at the movies with friends or at high school football games. When I told my friends why I couldn't join them, they were flabbergasted.
How One Family Reclaimed its Jewish Heritage
We are fortunate that Reform Judaism makes it possible for us to embrace all who step into Jewish life and endeavor to create sacred space for those they love.
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?
Lessons My Mother, of Blessed Memory, Taught Me
I realize now that when I grew up, even though I acted like I was on autopilot, cruising through the days of my life, I was truly like a sponge absorbing the example that my mother, of blessed memory, set.
Why is the Sabbath considered a day of rest?
The requirement that we rest on Shabbat is explained by the Torah according to two broad themes.
Teach (and Practice) a New Jewish Value Each Night of Hanukkah
Focus on Community: An Award-Winning Strategy for Two Congregations
In an increasingly mobile society, families often are separated by many miles. Far from family support, we seek community elsewhere, including in our Jewish institutions.
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.