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Ten Minutes of Torah

Teens Connect to Judaism Through Justice

Joy Friedman
Annabelle Hanflig
Rabbi Greg Litcofsky
Rabbi Michael Namath
Every year, nearly 2,000 high school-aged Reform Jewish students participate in the Religious Action Center's L'Taken Seminar in Washington, D.C. At the beginning of December, Rabbi Greg Litcofsky, took the confirmation class at his congregation, Temple Emanu-El of West Essex, to Washington D.C. to participate in the L’taken Seminar. The program is designed to expose students to a variety of public policy issues, explore the Jewish values surrounding these issues and teach the skills of an effective advocate. Below, Rabbi Litcofsky and one of Temple Emanu-El’s students, Annabelle Hanflig, reflect on their experience.

Celebrate Torah

Rabbi P.J. Schwartz

Every year, the season of reflection and renewal is culminated by the celebration of Simchat Torah (literally “the rejoicing of the Torah”).

Torah Study
Ten Minutes of Torah

Understanding Yom Kippur - Then and Now

Dr. Madelyn Mishkin Katz

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a concept I came to understand in my early adult years. But this was my understanding during my childhood:

  1.  Yom Kippur really translated into “Indian Summer.” Why?

Rosh HaShanah Teaches Us About Making Every Moment Count!

The month preceding the High Holy Days is called Elul. It is a time of reflection before we “officially” begin the important process of teshuvah. In some ways this time of the Jewish calendar reminds me of Havdalah – the short but sweet service in which we say

Rosh HaShanah
Torah Study

Chutzpah is the New Charisma

Rabbi Evan Moffic

Charisma  is overrated.

Yes, it can inspire devotion and admiration. But it depends on something stronger. It depends on chutzpah. Chutzpah is a Yiddish word best translated as “gall,” or “guts.” It is a willingness to break conventions.

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Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut

What is the Point of Remembering?

Rabbi Mark Strauss-Cohn

In the 20th century, three new holy days were inserted to the Jewish calendar based on the massively significant events of the Shoah and the Establishment of the State of Israel: Yom HaShoah v’Hagveurah, Yom HaZikaron, Yom HaAtzmaut. 

Separate, Pure, and Holy

How many times do the Ten Commandments appear in the Chumash, the Pentateuch? The obvious answer is  two: Sh'mot 20:2 and  D'varim 5:6.  But when we take apart Vayikra 19, we find our Big Ten again, buried among 18 other positive and negative, ritual and
Torah Study

Haiti: One Year Later

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In March 2010, two months after the devastating 7.0 earthquake, I walked the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In every inch of available space - empty lots, front lawns, sidewalks, even in the street medians - I saw make-shift tent cities.
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