Deliberate Acts of Kindness
I am prone to inspiration the way some people are prone to colds. Even when I do remember to order decaf, the little everyday sparks tend to convince me that life is good. So, by nature, I am drawn to the notion of random acts of kindness.
Reform Judaism and Eretz Yisrael
“Did you know?” asked my husband’s Israeli granddaughter, at 16 indignant and adamant. “Reform Jews don’t believe the State of Israel should even exist!”
My Love Affair with Israel
My love affair with Israel began in 1972 when I journeyed for the first time with my immediate family. My parents had been for the first time in February of 1968, six months after the Six Day War. We also were there six months before the Yom Kippur War.
Will the New Pope Be Good for the Jews?
Quite a lot of Jewish ink has been spilled over the last few weeks analyzing the pontificate of the now retired Benedict XVI, prognosticating on who might be his successor, and, once announced, reporting every detail of Francis’ history with the Jewish community.
An IDF Soldier's Yom HaZikaron Reflections from a Kibbutz
Girls go to the Western Wall
This past February, we took 16 8th grade students from Congregation Beth Elohim on a trip to Israel. With little explanation of the politics, and in the context of aliyah l’regel, or religious pilgrimage, we took them to the Kotel to put notes in the wall and to pray.
Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut: The Juxtaposition of Extremes
A Prayer in the Aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombing
Our God who dwells in the highest heights and in the souls of our feet:
We find You in the passion of those who delight in testing and celebrating the power of their bodies:
A Prayer for Those Affected by the Boston Bombings
Author of life
Source and Creator,
Grant a perfect rest under your tabernacle of peace
To the victims of the bombings in Boston,