Day Schools: Are They Good for the Jews?
Two years ago, amidst a crowd of thousands of young people on the March of the Living from Auschwitz to Birkenau, a Reform Jewish day school student texted her mother: “Thank you, Mom, for sending me to The Leo Baeck Day School.
Will Historic Election in Myanmar Provide Hope for Rohingya Muslim Community?
After decades of being "one of the world’s most persecuted minorities,” as designated by the United Nations, recent elections in Myanmar may provide a hint of hope for the Rohingya Muslim community.
Deciding the Future of Tribal Sovereignty
What do an American Indian tribe, a multi-billion dollar corporation and the U.S. Supreme Court all have in common? These three bodies are all embroiled in a case that could have wide implications for one of the most complicated aspects of our legal system: tribal sovereignty.
On the Anniversary of the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the Fight for Fair Pay Continues
January 29 marks the seventh anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
The Imperative for Judicial Systems From Moses to the 21st Century
This week, we read Parashat Yitro, in the book of Exodus. Parashat Yitro is perhaps most well known for telling the story of the Jews going to Mount Sinai and receiving the Ten Commandments.
Reform Movement Adopts Three New Resolutions
This week, the URJ's North American Board adopted three new resolutions, concluding the consultative and inclusive process that began before the Biennial. These resolutions add to the canon of hundreds of URJ resolutions that outline its values and priorities.
Pursuing Racial Justice on Shabbat Tzedek
U.S. Reform congregations will soon commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with the annual celebration of Shabbat Tzedek, taking the opportunity to reflect on the progress that has been made in advancing civil rights in the past half-century and to rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of racial justice.
Butterflies, Birds, and the Poetry of Freedom
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, Mark Ludwig, executive director of the Terezin Music Foundation (TMF), has created “an artistic memorial” to the 15-20 million people who died or were imprisoned in the Third Reich’s more than 42,500 camps and ghettos. Terezin served as a Nazi propaganda ploy to showcase how well Jews were treated in the camps, for example, by allowing musical and theater productions.
The Syrian Refugee Crisis: We’re Doing What Our Beliefs and Values Tell Us to Do
On Rosh HaShanah, I asked our congregation this question: “Who do we want to be in this new year?”