At the End of Two Years
This Biennial is almost over but we’re just getting started. What a humbling responsibility you have placed on my shoulders; what a tremendous opportunity we have to shape the Jewish future with imagination, courage and commitment.
Galilee Diary: Rain
Bless for us, O Lord our God, this year and all its produce. [From Pesach until the 6th of Cheshvan] Bestow a blessing on the face of the earth. [From the 6th of Cheshvan until Pesach] Bestow dew and rain for a blessing on the face of the earth.
Cooking for Hanukkah
A brief history of the food traditions of Hanukkah from across the Diaspora.
Oy Tannenbaum!
It was over brunch on our fourth date when I told him, "This can't go anywhere...I’m Jewish and you’re not." After years of Jewish camp, Hebrew school and lectures from my parents, I was fairly certain that the eleventh commandment was “Thou shalt meet a nice Jewish boy, get married and have beau
Al HaNissim (For the Miracles)
One of the Hanukkah songs we sing begins with the words, al hanissim (for the miracles), and thanks God for all the miracles performed for our fathers, in those days, in this season (the last referring to the Hanukkah season).
Will the Senate Put the American People Ahead of Big Banks?
On Thursday, the Senate failed to reach the 60-vote threshold to proceed to a vote on the nomination of former Ohio Attorney
Galilee Diary: Exile?
I recently had the privilege of attending the Biennial Assembly of the Union for Reform Judaism in Washington DC, as a representative of the HUC Jerusalem faculty. It was a fascinating experience and there were many moving moments and interesting conversations (and it was fun to meet in per
Becoming a Jewish Family
“So, how many children do you want?” Not an unusual question for a man to ask his girlfriend when he is beginning to think about a future with her. However, when I heard this question, it came from the cute, industrious Israeli I had been dating for about six months and I actually lau
Oregon Governor Halts Death Penalty
Last week, Gary Haugen was about to become the third person executed by the state of Oregon since it reinstated the death penalty in 1984. Haugen was convicted of the killing of his former girlfriend's mother, and received a life sentence.