How can we help children cope with natural disasters?
Hearing about and seeing images of people weeping, clutching loved ones in relief or in grief while standing in front of devastated homes and schools evokes painful feelings of sadness, fear and helplessness.
Why Do We Light Two Candles at the Beginning of Shabbat?
The traditional practice is to light two candles on Shabbat.
Do Jews celebrate Valentine’s Day? Is there a Jewish holiday similar to Valentine's Day?
The origins of Valentine’s Day are linked to a saint, though, the connections are dubious and even the Catholic Church has removed Valentine's Day from the church calendar.
What is a Ketubah?
Ketubah means “written” and has come to refer to the Jewish marriage contract. An ancient document, the ketubah represented an advancement in women’s status by protecting the rights of the bride.
Why do some Jews write "G-d" instead of "God"?
Writing "G-d" instead of God is a fairly recent custom in America. Here are its origins.
Where Did The Purim Carnival Come From?
Though Purim is a minor holiday on the Jewish calendar, it is widely observed and a favorite of children.
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.
Stories We Tell: The Wooden Sword
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah - Shof’tim: Demanding Justice
At the core of being Jewish is a fundamental demand for justice. Demanding justice involves asking others to work toward a more just world, but it also involves asking ourselves to do that work.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah - Ki Teitzei: The Morality of War
Ki Teitzei translates to “when you go out,” but it doesn’t mean going out to dinner or the movies.