Is it Jewishly permissible for us to bury our beloved pet with my late mother? The dog meant a lot to her.
There are Jewish practices that can support those who experience the loss of pet.
I'm preparing to make aliyah (move to Israel) and was surprised to read that I need to present a "Jewish certificate." I’ve been Jewish my entire life, but I’ve never heard of a certificate that proves it! How do I obtain that?
Your first step should be to approach the organization Nefesh B'Nefesh, which works with the Israeli government and The Jewish Agency for Israel to “remove or minimize the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles of aliyah and the move to Israel.” They will walk you through the process.
Why do Jewish Holidays Begin at Night?
On the Jewish calendar, holidays begin in the evening, at sundown, and they continue through the next day.
I plan to attend Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services this year for the first time. Will I be expected to donate money during the service, like in a church service? If so, what’s the "right” amount?
I’m a regular listener of your podcast On the Other Hand. Can you explain the meaning of the Hebrew sign-off/farewell phrase at the end of each episode?
The Hebrew phrase at the end of the podcast is “L’hitraot." Here's what it means.
What, exactly, is a Haggadah?
The Hebrew word Haggadah means “telling,” and it refers to the service or script for the Passover seder table ritual. The Haggadah provides the order and script of the service with step-by-step instructions.
Reform Movement Welcomes Markup of the Equality Act
My (Privileged) Struggle to Find Meaning in Jewish Peoplehood
Weeks after I prayed at the Western Wall at the start of the new Hebrew month of Adar II, I still struggle to find meaning in the concept of Jewish peoplehood.
Mourning the Fire at Notre Dame: A Rabbi's Perspective
In March 2012, I visited Paris in my capacity as then-president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ). I’d just attended the European Union for Progressive Judaism’s convention in Amsterdam.
Riding Out of Missoula, MT, with Torah on My Mind
I cannot possibly imagine that I will think often and fondly of this day in Missoula: the day that, borrowing on Rabbi Laurie's strength and wisdom, I carried the Torah and tried to make the world just a little bit better.