Why I Wrote A Kinder, Gentler "Chad Gadya"
“I have no problem with the melody,” my daughter-in-law told me, “but those lyrics are so violent. I am just not comfortable exposing my children to them.” That’s how I ended up sitting down to write kinder, gentler lyrics to the Passover faborite 'Chad Gadya.'
Awakening Our Democracy
From April 16 through 18, thousands of Americans will gather in Washington, D.C., to urge Congress to pass necessary voting rights and campaign finance reforms, as well as to hold hearings and a vote on President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee.
How I Learned to Love Jewish Music Beyond Just Shabbat
Until I joined my synagogue, my only knowledge of religiously based choirs was watching the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on TV. I had no idea synagogues had choirs!
11 Resources to Better Your Seder
With its focus on freedom, Passover is a perfect time to incorporate modern-day social justice issues into the retelling of our people’s journey from slavery to freedom. This round-up of holiday resources – including haggadot, themed inserts, an inclusion guide, and more – will help ensure a terrific and meaningful seder for everyone around your table.
Looking for Leadership Training? The Scheidt Seminar is the Best!
For nearly 20 years, I have heard from congregational presidents about how the Union for Reform Judaism’s (URJ) Scheidt Seminar prepared them for their presidency and how it literally transformed their approach to synagogue leadership. Last weekend I experienced the “Scheidt Effect” firsthand. It is an example of truly outstanding leadership training.
Creating Community from the Wilderness to the Seder Table
It is not every day I get to study Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik, a major American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher. Rabbi Esther Lederman shared his teaching several months back on a pasuk in the Torah, set during the time the Israelites trekked through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land:
Commission on Social Action and Rabbis Organizing Rabbis Lobby Congress on Sentencing Reform
On Tuesday, members of the Commission on Social Action and Rabbis Organizing Rabbis came together to advocate key Senators to support the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (S. 2123).
A Promised Land for Those Seeking Refuge
When I learned that I would be spending my spring break in McAllen, Texas, with Temple Sinai, volunteering with migrants fleeing from violence in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, I didn’t know what to think.
Justice Delayed by Indefinite Detention
In the book of Deuteronomy, we find one of the best-known social justice texts in our tradition: “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” “Justice, justice shall you pursue” (16:20).
What's at Stake? A Look at the Western Wall Agreement
The compromise will bridge a festering schism between Israel and American Jewry, who have voiced concern about the government’s failure to recognize their authenticity and their needs. The hope is that the Western Wall will be an enduring symbol of Jewish unity, not fractious division.