Five Jewish Texts Show us a Balance between Civil Liberties and National Security
As debate continues to swirl over how our government can continue to address the threat of terrorism in a way that upholds our civil liberties, it can be difficult to keep track of the many issues this basic question raises.
Amyloidosis? Yes, You Need to Know
As a communications director, it’s my job to tell other people’s stories. However, I’m not always so comfortable telling my own. Even so, I want to tell you my dad’s story. More than that, I need to tell you about amyloidosis, the rare disease that took his life, so we can help save others from the same fate.
Bobbing for Justice: A Mikveh Victory in Israel
For many years, the Orthodox Rabbinate's control over almost all public mikvehs in Israel has ensured the exclusion of anyone who doesn't meet their religious standards. To fulfill the mikveh requirement, converts had no choice but to immerse in the sea, out in the open, even in cold weather.
Yoga and Torah Study: What Do They Have in Common?
For six years, I have led a diverse group of about 25 individuals in a weekly “Lunch and Learn” Torah study session. As we wrestle with the text through the lens of our contemporary lives, some parashiyot (weekly portions) resonate more than others, but we are comfortable enough in our study to question everything – including God – without diminishing our faith.
Tuning in to the Power of Psalms
It was a blessing for me to study Psalms with mentors at Hebrew Union College and Vanderbilt Divinity School. Now, I study Psalms almost every day.
How Israel is Defying the Global Water Shortage
The U.S. government predicts that 40 states and 60% of the earth’s land surface will soon face alarming gaps between the supply and growing demand for water. Israel stands in defiance of this water emergency.
What Can We Learn from the Pfeffermans?
Most people have at least heard of Amazon’s groundbreaking television show, Transparent, which along with transgender actress Laverne Cox of Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black and movies such as Tangerine, are pushing transgender stories from the margins into the mainstream. But to single out Transparent simply for highlighting a topic that’s still taboo in most of the television world is to overlook the other half of the show’s DNA – its significant reliance on Jewish themes and customs to weave its tale. It may seem an arbitrary combination, as the show is based in part on creator Jill Soloway’s own Jewish family and transgendered parent, but advocacy for LGBTQ rights has a long history among progressive Jews.
Leap Day and Adar II: An Extra Day, an Extra Month
This year of 5776 is a leap year and we are, right now, in the midst of the "extra month." This month is called Adar Aleph, and it only occurs in seven of every 19 years.
5 Jewish Texts to Balance Civil Liberties and National Security
While it is clear that not all of these texts are in agreement, together they communicate the need to pursue policies that balance national security and civil liberties.
Notes from My Recent Visit with Prime Minister Netanyahu
The prime minister has been generous with his time; in fact, I have had the opportunity to meet with him often since becoming president of the URJ.