Do Not Stand Idly By the Blood of Your Neighbor
Rabbi Joel Mosbacher, senior rabbi of Beth Haverim Shir Shalom in Mahwah, N.J., attributes his passion for social justice to his youth group and Jewish camping experiences, but it was a personal tragedy that led to his taking up the cause of gun violence
Protect Stalking Victims from Gun Violence
A few months ago for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I wrote about the unlikely connection between domestic violence and gun violence, and how the intersection of these two issue
43 Years of Roe v. Wade
43 years ago, on January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States recognized that the Constitution protects a woman’s right to choose whether or not to have an abortion in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
The Synagogue President: Unsung Hero of American Judaism
Anyone who has been a synagogue member or professional knows that the synagogue president is the unsung hero of Judaism in America. The synagogue president, often by personal nature and always by congregational legislation, is the number one volunteer at a synagogue, performing work that often borders on being a full-time, albeit unpaid, job. The president is charged with vast governance, management, and financial powers. Partnering with the clergy, overseeing the business operations of the synagogue, presiding over the governance of the congregation, and serving as the chief financial officer and revenue generator is just the tip of the iceberg of a modern synagogue president’s responsibilities.
Tu BiSh'vat: A Time to Celebrate Environmental Justice
There are many reasons to celebrate Tu BiSh’vat this year, as this has been an exciting year for environmental justice.
What Should it Mean to Be "The Chosen People"?
With all my heart, I believe God chooses specific individuals for specific tasks - and if individuals can have destinies, why not peoples as a whole?
Rabin's Last Day: The Chasm of Israel’s Own Divide
In the film Rabin, The Last Day, filmmaker Amos Gitai revisits the turbulent political atmosphere in Israel during the Oslo Accords negotiations between the Rabin government and the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
Teen Stress: To What End?
We encourage our youth to be leaders and want them to succeed and excel. But what happens when the stress to achieve takes away the joy from their social lives and their ability to recharge? Should we consider giving our teen campers dedicated time to do SAT prep in summertime?