Is Halloween Right for Your Jewish Family?
Do Jews celebrate Halloween? Well, it depends on whom you ask. Reform Jews seem to be particularly divided on the subject of celebrating the spooky holiday.
What I Learned From Researching My Family Tree
My interest in Jewish genealogy goes back to 1992, but it was a librarian at my local public library who put me on the path to research my family history.
This Lemon Cake Recipe Exposed a Family Secret
After a Shabbat dinner in my home for three Germans, one of them shared a lemon cake recipe and the incredible story of how it uncovered a long-held family secret.
Our Migrant First Family: Abraham Passed the Test, but Will We?
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, presented this sermon on Rosh HaShanah morning, saying, "We need to face something so odious that we will try to avert our eyes. But we must not."
Canadian Thanksgiving: A Turkey in the Sukkah?
This year, Canadian Thanksgiving coincides with the Jewish harvest holiday of Sukkot on Monday October 14.
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.
4 New Sukkah Blessings To Try This Year
Marking holidays looks very different for most of us this year - a perfect time to try something completely new. Though we might need to wait another year before gathering together with groups for a Sukkot meal, here are a few new ideas to try now.
Greene Family Camp and Temple Emanu-El Rally to Help Families Impacted by Dallas Tornadoes
On Sunday night, the Dallas/Fort Worth area was hit by severe thunderstorms, including multiple confirmed tornadoes, which devastated parts of Dallas and the surrounding communities and directly impacted members of the Jewish community.
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?
What is a Sukkah?
A sukkah is a temporary, hut-like dwelling built during the holiday of Sukkot. (In fact, the word sukkot is the plural of sukkah.)