Women of Reform Judaism

by Jane Oppenheim Signs from God are featured in Parashat Bo – Plagues, marvels, wonders to know – With themes of God’s omnipotence, And of God’s remembrance. The locusts, the darkness, of Biblical days Are manifestly contemporary – in so many ways.

by Ellen Petracco The second reading from the book of Exodus and fourteenth reading from the Torah is named Va’eira, which means “And I appeared.” The title comes from the first words of the second verse of the reading, which says, “And I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty (Exodus 6:3).” The [...]

by Adrian Modansky Good wishes for a healthy and happy 2013! Aren’t we fortunate to be able to celebrate two new years? We have the opportunity to make two new beginnings!

by Connie Kreshtool This week’s Torah portion Va-y’chi (“and he lived”) concludes the Book of Genesis and relates the final years and death of Jacob, the last of the patriarchs.  After living in Egypt for 17 years, Jacob realizes that he will soon die and tells Joseph that he wishes to be buried with his [...]

by Rabbi Stanley M. Davids It will happen precisely at 6:12 a.m. today: The Winter Solstice. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, this will be the earliest start of the winter season since 1896! The sun’s path is at its southernmost point, and things are going to get a lot colder before the spring warm-up [...]

My name is Rachel Jurisz-Singh. Some of you know me by the name I use professionally – Jurisz – which is actually my maiden name. Yes, I am intermarried and my family is interracial too. Growing up I never thought I would choose to marry outside of my faith. I was always involved in my [...]

Today is a very busy and light-filled day in the Hebrew calendar. How fortunate and blessed we are to have so much light adorn our homes, first with the lighting of the sixth candle of Hanukkah and then with the welcoming of Shabbat by lighting her candles, especially since it now gets dark in the [...]

by Dara Amram This week’s torah portion, Vayeishev, describes six prophetic dreams. Here we see that Joseph has a gift for reading dreams, but it’s a talent that is primarily a passive one, where dream intuitions are given to him and he doesn’t need to think about anything.

by Rabbi Robert A. Jacobs Life’s experiences can give us energy: a friend walking her dachshund was angered when two larger dogs attacked the little fellow, biting him seriously. The dog bears scars but healed, and that allowed the two owners to move from that misfortune to a mutual understanding. Life’s experiences promise us change, [...]

by Abigail Fisher This week we read (Genesis 25:21): “Isaac pleaded with יהוה on behalf of his wife, for she was childless, and יהוה acceded to his entreaty, so his wife Rebekah became pregnant.”