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.
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.
Your Congregation is Facing a Transition: Now What?
Though I felt our rabbinic transition was going well, I knew it was too important to the future of the congregation to pass up the opportunity to learn whatever I could about making the transition as successful as possible.
Famed Holocaust Documentarian is the Focus of New Oscar-Nominated Film
Thirty years after the release of Claude Lanzmann’s landmark Holocaust documentary, Shoah, a new documentary short revisits the inscrutable filmmaker’s legacy by exploring the difficulties, both personal and professional, he faced during the nearly 12 years it took to complete the film.
How Torah Brought Comfort to a 91-Year-Old Widow
When 91-year-old Deana came to visit me, she came to find comfort and solace a year and a half after her beloved husband Alvin died – but it turned out that she spent more time teaching me Torat Chayim (the Torah of Life). In the process, she lifted both of us a little higher on the ladder of holiness.
Limit on SNAP Benefits Violates a Moral Mandate
For millions of people, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a lifeline.