Listen: The Power of Tekiah Gedolah
“Wake up, wake up, you sleepers from your sleep, and awake you slumberers from your slumber.” (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Teshuvah 3:4)
Suffering in Silence: Jews, Therapy, and the Stigma of Mental Illness
I was 20 when I learned that my first love had committed suicide. His death shattered me, both mentally and emotionally – but it also saved my life. You see, in the months leading up to his suicide, I had been planning my own.
Slaughter Does Not Honor Anyone: Remembering that Fateful Day in Pittsburgh
As I was leading Torah study at our synagogue nearly a year ago, an evil man murdered my friends and co-religionists because to him, Jews are strangers and dangerous.
Why I'm Wishing My Fellow Jews a "Happy Yom Kippur"
Given that Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, it makes sense that it can, and should, be joyful.
Palestinian Doctors, Israeli Hospitals, and Bridge-Building for Peace
Project Rozana trains Palestinian health professionals in Israeli hospitals to enhance their capacity to deliver needed health care in the Palestinian territories.
What Do We Really Mean When We Apologize?
Although we learn to say “I’m sorry” as young children, as we age, these words take on more meaning, perhaps reflecting true regret about our behavior or its impact.
We Are More Than Our Diagnoses: Speaking About Mental Illness with Compassion and Respect
A psychiatric disease is not someone’s fault nor is a diagnosis meant to be a weapon. Its purpose is not to label, but rather to help.
Chicago in the Jewish Limelight
When the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) convenes its 2019 Biennial this December in Chicago, it will shine the spotlight on a city with a rich Jewish heritage.
6 Congregational Innovations to Inspire You in the New Jewish Year
Engagement is truly about putting people – not institutions – at the center of what we do by actively listening to them and meeting them where they are. Here, we share six innovative congregational initiatives – two in each of these three areas – to inspire you in the new Jewish year.
What I Learned From Researching My Family Tree
My interest in Jewish genealogy goes back to 1992, but it was a librarian at my local public library who put me on the path to research my family history.