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.
An American Reflects on Independence Day from Israel
July 4th in Israel is a day sandwiched between July 3rd and July 5th. Nonetheless, after work we’ll heat the grill and invite other Americans to celebrate with us.
How to "Restring Your Beads" When Your Narrative Changes
When I first learned about stringing and restringing our beads based on life experiences, I began to see my relationship with Torah as an ongoing, nonlinear process.
What Moses Could’ve Learned from Starbucks
Knowing when to let go is a most difficult decisions many of us will face as we age. If we hold on to people or things too long, we risk harm to them and to ourselves.
Why Did You Deceive Me, Distant Lights?
Visiting Kuchinate, I experienced overwhelming kindness from the women, Sudanese and Eritrean asylum seekers who had escaped horrible torture and persecution in Africa.
It's Up to Us to Keep the Mishpachah (Family) Together
Imagine being forcibly separated from your loved one. This scenario may evoke thoughts of one of the darkest times in Jewish history. Yet, this is happening today, in America.
Recapping the URJ President's Whirlwind Visit to Israel
“It’s time for there to be a new way to give peace and justice to the people of Gaza, an end to the destructive policies and dangerous leadership of Hamas, and security to the Israelis who live nearby the Gaza border.”