What Does it Really Mean To Be “The Chosen People”?
On the first day of Shavuot, we read in Exodus 19 that God declares to the Israelites assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai:
Lag BaOmer Is a Time to Connect with Our Ancestors
May 26th will mark the Jewish festival of Lag BaOmer which – like, Shavuot and Hanukkah – is not mentioned in the Torah.
What My Parents' Deaths Taught Me About Family
My mom died on January 24 at the age of 94. Eight weeks, later my dad died. He was 95. They had just celebrated their 73rd anniversary.
My brother the doctor said the cause of my dad’s death was a “medical mystery.” I claim that he died because he willed himself to do so.
If You’re Reading This, You Are Probably Among the Jews’ Saving Remnant
Shavuot is an ideal time to contemplate the brit (covenant) that God made with the Israelites, and its impact on the Jewish experience to this day.
Developing our Own Holiness Code
When I discovered that this week’s parashah (Torah portion) would be Acharei Mot/K'doshim, which includes the Holiness Code, the irony was not lost on me.
Marking the 70th Anniversary of the End of WWII as a Post-Soviet Jew
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the WWII, a symbolic date marked on different days in different parts of the world.
How Shavuot is a Perfect Example of Reform Jewish Thinking
One of the great examples of Reform Jewish thinking, some 2,000 years before there was anything called Reform Judaism, regards the Festival of Shavuot.
The Torah In Haiku: Acharei Mot / K'doshim
The chapters of Torah often called "The Holiness Code" begin in this week's double portion. So called because of the numerous repetitions of the phrase "You shall be holy," it includes many ethical commandments.
Judaism and Sports: More Alike Than You Might Think
For me, sports and Judaism have always been connected. I know, I know: Judaism and sports, you say!? But as it turns out, they go together well.
A Dangerous Trend in World War II-Era Novels
I understand why Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction last month.