How to Teach About a Land of Milk, Honey and Other Ingredients
How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? Two years ago, I became a full-time Israeli Shaliach at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach. For the past three summers, I’ve also served as the head of the Israeli delegation at URJ Camp Coleman in Cleveland, Georgia. My job is to strengthen the bond between Israel and local communities in the United States. Israel is clearly my home, but how can I help others feel closer to it?
How the Ultra-Orthodox Are Trying to Slow Progress in Israel
Writer Carl Sandburg once said, “If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the law and the facts are against you, pound the table and yell like hell.” In Israel, the ultra-Orthodox establishment is doing lots of table-pounding and yelling in response to progressive Judaism's many recent achievements.
Senate Approves Comprehensive Opioid Addiction Legislation
Last week, the Senate passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA, S. 524) on a 94 to 1 vote.
How We Celebrate Purim with Our Twin Congregation in Israel
While the Purim celebrations and unpacking of lessons continue, we continue to explore other ways to celebrate - including partnering with our "twin" sisterhood in Israel.
6 Statistics to Remember from Pew's Survey of Israelis
Much of the Jewish world has been abuzz since the Pew Research Center released results from its recent survey of Israeli society last week.
The New Zionism: Driven By Innovation in Technology
A new Zionism has emerged. It’s taking many forms, but most dramatically, I've discovered it in the startup companies that are transforming Israel into a high-tech powerhouse and an engine for improving the quality of life for millions of people worldwide.
Growing Pains: How to Teach a Young Israel to Embrace Its Diversity
How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? Recently, I led a URJ Roswell Klal Yisrael Fellowship program Israel trip for a group of international Reform teens. We got to meet Rabbi Noa Sattath, Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC). Noa discussed how, in some of Israel’s religious neighborhoods, when an advertisement features an “exposed” female model (sometimes the only part ‘exposed’ being her face!), religious men hurry to cover it up.
Israel Education Demands Putting the Learner at the Center
How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? The Israel I grew up with – the Israel of the 6-Day war, the Israel of the Munich massacre, of Entebbe and the 1977 European Basketball championship – is not the Israel that resonates with young people today. Today’s youth are not as willing to take on Israel “hook, line and sinker” the way many of my generation did. They have easy access to information, form their own opinions, and want to be heard. They demand discourse, diversity and accountability.
New Sentencing Commission Report Finds High Recidivism Rates
Earlier this month, the U.S. Sentencing Commission released a comprehensive report on the recidivism of federal offenders.