What Happens When a National News Story Is Slanted
The headline alone told me the story in The Washington Post would be about Temple Emanu-El, the congregation in Dothan, AL, where I had served as the rabbi for 10 years.
Planting “Trees” to Fulfill the Dream of Israel’s Founders
Tu BiShvat (Jewish Arbor Day) is the time of year when Israeli schoolchildren plant trees. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that a teacher instituted the tree-planting custom.
How We Can Deepen Social Justice in the Jewish Community and Beyond
We caught up with some of the contributors of the new anthology Moral Resistance and Spiritual Authority to learn about their perspectives on the spiritual origins of the Jewish pursuit of justice.
The Power of New Beginnings: Parashat Bo and Human Trafficking Awareness
More people are enslaved today than at any other point in history – more than 40 million people worldwide.
Wildfire Recovery: A Tu BiShvat Tale
When a wildfire leveled my home when I was 20, I fell into a deep depression. Later, when I began to re-engage, I started to associate my emergence with Tu BiShvat.
On Being a Moral Leader in Uncertain Times
This post was originally published on Facebook as a message to Greenwich Reform Synagogue in Connecticut after Rabbi Jordie Gerson attended the inaugural Rabbinic Moral Leadership
Imperfect Victories: Parashat Va'era and the First Step Act
This post is adapted from Rabbi Juliana Karol's sermon at Congregation Rodeph Sholom on January 4, 2019.
On Global Jewish Responsibility: Putting the Olam in Tikkun Olam
God created human beings to partner with God to shape a world of justice and compassion. The sphere of divine concern is global, extending to all who inhabit the planet.
The Most Troubling Verse in the Bible
Coming so abruptly at the end of one of Scripture’s most poignant passages, the wish detailed in Psalm 137:9 can stun readers.