Taking Transformation Home
Having chaperoned my first trip to a L’Taken seminar last year, I wanted nothing more than to bottle up the experience and take it home to Temple
Purim: It's More than Just a Carnival
I remember the Purim celebrations of my youth: homemade cardboard crowns wrapped in aluminum foil; groggers fashioned from Styrofoam cups, dried beans, and masking tape; my brothers dressed in bathrobes, beards and mustaches sketched on their faces. As in many other congregations, our Purim carnival was run by the youth group as a fundraiser, and when I reached high school, I became a planner instead of a participant. We planned games and activities that sounded like fun to us teenagers and would be enjoyed by the religious school kids who were our target audience. Neither preschool children nor their parents were part of the planning equation.
What Purim Can Teach Us about Anti-Semitism
Later this month, we will read and commemorate the story of Purim and celebrate Esther’s bravery with revelry and joy.
From Crush to Love: A Different Approach to Israel Education
How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? I learned about Israel in a “crush-like” way, as a “perfect Israel,” a place where everything was good, right and just. I was not introduced to the “real” Israel, a place with imperfections. The Israel as “crush” approach worked for me. Ultimately, I moved from crush on to deep love with to moving to Israel.
Dedicate a National Park to LGBT History
In the United States, there are over 400 national park sites dedicated to cultural and historic significance. Two thirds of these parks and monuments help our country to commemorate important events, movements, and people that have helped shape our nation’s his
Walking in Each Other's Shoes
This summer, I found myself in rural Georgia alongside dozens of other people of all races, religions and ethnicities who marched together for justice. This was “America’s Journey for Justice,” a forty day, 1,000 mile journey from Selma, Alabama, to Washington, D.C., sponsored by the NAACP.
Major Win for the Green Climate Fund
It can be difficult to measure the power of taking action, such as filling out an action alert, making a phone call, writing a letter, or meeting with your Members of Congress.
The Torah In Haiku: P'kudei
he cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Glory of God filled the Tabernacle.
Why Teens Should Embrace Technology to Learn about Israel
How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? Think of your favorite sports team. A team you would jump to defend in an argument. For me, it’s the Washington Capitals. Now, imagine being at your team’s games. Surrounded by fans from both sides, cheerleaders, and even a couple of merchants. Your team scores a goal and the arena erupts in cheers. Think of your favorite sports team.
Embrace Honest Conversations to Lift Israel Up
How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? Sitting in my study with my post-Confirmands, the conversation started off in a way that might have been different if I still lived in Mamaroneck, New York. Growing up and then working in the New York City metropolitan area, I was used to people being fairly critical of Israeli politics and policies. Of course, many of us were passionate Zionists, raised on the stories of the glorious Six Day War.