Reliving Sinai: Shavuot and the Tradition of Confirmation in Reform Judaism
As we approach the Festival of Shavuot this coming week, tens of thousands of American Reform Jews will be fondly recalling a milestone moment in their own personal religious lives - their confirmation ceremonies.
A Suburban Problem With a Summer Camp Solution
My wife Robin and I have a suburban problem. We recently bought our first house, and it features both a formal living room, which I call the living room, and a “family room,” which I also keep referring to as the living room. It gets confusing.
Jewish Learning Never Ends!
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and my synagogue got a jump on it by celebrating a little early. On May 3rd, we honored our congregation’s nursery school and religious school teachers, whose hard work and dedication were acknowledged on the bimah.
Maimonides Preached Inclusion, But We Still Don't Get It
As concerned as we are about economic justice, the American Jewish community has failed to understand, on a gut level, a glaring reality: adults with disabilities in the U.S. disproportionately experience poverty.
From Generation to Generation
NFTY Missouri Valley Social Action Vice President Jackie Heymann reflects on her experiences at the Religious Action Center's Consultation on Conscience.
A Rabbi's Letter to the Boy Scouts About Equality
The following is a letter I sent last week to the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Nashville, TN. A native of Nashville, I once belonged to Troop 31, sponsored by St.
The Shabbat Spice: Why Friday Night Dinner Tastes So Much Better
One day, my daughter walked into the house after attending preschool.
“What’s wrong?” she asked incredulously.
“Why?” I responded, “Is something wrong?”
“Well,” my very bright 3-year-old answered, “the house smells like Shabbat and I know that today is not Shabbat.”
The Torah In Haiku: Bamidbar
We start Bamidbar
Much has happened already
Since leaving Egypt
But it's still early
Thirty-eight more years to go
Desert wandering
Experiencing Rosh Chodesh at the Kotel
This morning, we went to the Western Wall to pray with Women of the Wall for Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the festival celebrating the new month.