Displaying 1 - 10 of 16
Do Reform Jews Believe in the Messiah?
In the Jewish prayer book, the siddur, there are references to an “end of days”: the Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt, the dead who were righteous will be resurrected, and a figure known as the Messiah, or in Hebrew the Moshiach, will restore Israel to new-found glory.
How can we explain circumcision to our friends?
Do you have some talking points we can use with our friends to help them understand our choice as parents?
Where can I find the dates of the Jewish holidays for next year?
If you are planning a simchah (joyous occasion) or significant event and want to find the corresponding date on the Jewish calendar, check out our Jewish Holiday Calendar.
What is the Jewish symbolism of the pomegranate?
The pomegranate is one of the Seven Species mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as being native to the Land of Israel.
Wholly Jewish: Max Antman: The Queerness and Politics of Torah
How can we embrace Judaism from not only a queer perspective, but also a “political” one? Max Antman (he/him), a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, discusses how being a gay man influences his reading of Torah, how his Reform synagogue empowered his gay identity, and the sacred relationship between activism and studying Jewish text.
Audio file
Wholly Jewish: Laura: Creating Peace Out of Wholeness
This week’s guest, Cantor Laura Stein, shares her perspectives on how we can best care for those around us, the (lack of) tension between being Jewish and being a lesbian, and how her spiritual leadership inspires her social work at Mount Sinai Hospital's Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery.
Audio file
What Is Elul?
Elul is the Hebrew month preceding Rosh HaShanah, during which one engages in self-reflection and evaluation in preparation for the High Holidays. Traditionally, the shofar is blown each day during the month.
Stories We Tell: The Dancing Bear
All is not always what it seems, as we learn when a man from Pinsk tricks a woman in Minsk with a dancing bear and a very sweet Minchah (afternoon service). Join Rabbi Steven Bob, as he shares the tale of “The Dancing Bear”.
Audio file
Stories We Tell: The Seed
The king, who is ready to retire, is holding a contest to find his successor. He gives seeds to all of the young people in the kingdom, and tells them whoever can grow the finest tree, plant, or crop will become king. A young boy with a green thumb knows that he has a real shot at winning, but no matter what he does, he can’t seem to make these plants grow. Can he make it work in time? Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz retells the story.
Audio file
Stories We Tell: Chiribim
Years ago, the Chiribim and Chiribam families were enemies--but, the feud had been going on for so long that nobody could even remember how it began! Eventually, the rabbi decided that he would bring the families together and urge them to make peace. He asked both families to meet him in the forest, but after forgetting his glasses, the plan became difficult to carry through. Was the rabbi able to bring the families together? Cantor Rosalie Will retells the story. You can find a written version of the story in Stories for Peace by Mark Binder.
Audio file