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.
8 Principles that Drive Strong Congregations
All congregational leaders are looking for the magic formula to success, the one that will ensure that their members are happy, engaged, and Jewishly fulfilled, and that their budgets are balanced.
How the URJ Helps Congregations Welcome and Engage People in the Jewish Community
Learn how the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) is expanding resources devoted to in-person offerings of A Taste of Judaism® and Introduction to Judaism classes.
Why I'll Be Cycling in Israel This Spring
As a teen in 1966, I was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter (O-S) disease, a ligament inflammation characterized by a painful bump below the knee that worsens with activity.
How to Get It Just Right: Follow Instructions and Improvise
In the Torah portion T’rumah, the word “tavnit” or “pattern” occurs three times, referring to a visual model or maybe a blueprint to follow in building the Tabernacle.
Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion: From Stigma to Pride
Rabbi Edythe Held Mencher helps us understand why the language of disability is such a powerful determinant of social attitudes, from prejudice to pride.
Hiding My Disability Kept Me from My Fullest Life
At a very young age, I absorbed the message that illness and disability were things to be ashamed of, and so I hid my troubles in shame. In short, I cheated myself.