New Orleans Jews Celebrate Mardi Gras with a Twist
At Touro Synagogue in New Orleans, the open tent imagery from the biblical narrative of Abraham strongly influences our approach to sacred community.
Nobody’s Perfect: The Challenge of Seeing the Sacred around Us
The Ba’al Shem Tov said: There are two ways to serve God. One is to separate yourself from people and from the world’s affairs, and to devote yourself wholly to a study of religious books. This is the safe way.
Three Innovative Congregational Initiatives that Use Tech as an Engagement Tool
As liberal Jews in the modern world, we are not only willing to engage with the modern world, but we embrace it.
Questioning the Essence of the B’nai Mitzvah
by Kathy Schwartz At a recent breakfast with the chair of the senior rabbi search committee, Congregation Har HaShem’s B’nai Mitzvah Revolution Core Team had the opportunity to speak about what kind of rabbi we were seeking. Our requirements: the rabbi should be willing to embrace change; be willing to partner with us in continuing our exploration of imagining what b’nai mitzvah can be; and must understand that at Har HaShem, professionals and lay leaders do things together. BMR is our joint project.
The Moral Call to Pass the Healthy Families Act
Two Jewish Films You Shouldn't Miss: “Ida” and “Félix and Meira”
Two new award-winning foreign language films examine identity, faith, and family through the lens of improbable relationships that lead to fateful choices.
What Stories Do Your Ritual Garments Tell?
Whether we know them or not, everything we wear tells three stories.
How to Organize a Hanukkah Bazaar
Hanukkah, which begin at sundown on December 6th, seems far off – but it isn’t too early for your congregation, sisterhood, or brotherhood to start planning a Hanukkah fundraiser.
What Rainbows Teach Us About Humanity
I do not remember many specific lessons from my elementary school experience, but the mnemonic devices we were taught have stuck with me.
Making Synagogue a Place to Run To, Not From
The events of my son’s bar mitzvah day don't begin to tell the story of how Max arrived at that moment.