Growing Up is Hard to Do
My fiancée and I recently joined a congregation about a block from our home. We went to the new member Shabbat, were called by the rabbi, welcomed by members and Abby (my future bride) was called this morning to read an aliyah on Rosh HaShanah.
Thoughts From My First Selichot Service
I came to the 11 pm Selichot Service at Beth Emeth in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday night at the suggestion of Rabbi Grumbacher during Torah study. I came frankly, out of curiosity and to see if I could stay awake at that
The Immigration Stigma's Got to Go
Emily Schwartz is an intern at the Religious Action Center and a senior at The George Washington University.
If Anne Frank Had a Gun
I am often asked why Jews went like sheep to the slaughter during the Holocaust. The question falsely assumes it was possible to resist, but Jews failed to do so.
In Afghanistan, I Started Praying Before I Traveled
In 2005-2006, I worked in Afghanistan, and to get to work, I had to travel on one of the most dangerous roads in the world. This is when I started praying for safe travels.
The Best Gift My Parents Ever Gave Me
I cite my parents’ decision to raise a Jewish family as my gift of a lifetime because of the astronomical impact it has had on my life thus far.
Using Our Heritage to Find a Cure for Parkinson's Disease
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and – in honor of the one million people living with Parkinson’s disease in the United States – I want to share my story.
The Missouri Reform Jew Who Contributed to Israel's Founding
President Truman’s prompt recognition of the state of Israel in 1948 might not have happened without Eddie Jacobson, a little-known Reform Jew from Kansas City, Missouri.
There's More Than One Way to Spell Shalom
More than peace, shalom means well-being, health, wholeness, and prosperity. How can we achieve this precious blessing in our lives – for our loved ones and ourselves?