Responding to the Refugee Crisis: Refugees Welcome
Advancements in Global Health Research
In January, world leaders launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and promote health and well-being for all by 2030.
Celebrate Endangered Species Day
Today, on Endangered Species Day, I am celebrating my favorite animal, the African elephant.
The Core of the Matter: The Future of Jerusalem
The Glencoe Community Garden Compost Program
In a northern suburb of Chicago, on a small tract of formerly unused land situated between a commuter train track and bicycle path, an all-volunteer group is doing some amazing work.
How a DNA Test and a Dream Led Me to Judaism
I hired an ancestral DNA expert to analyze my Jewish blood but, frustrated with my demands for details, he sent a curt email I will never forget: “You’re either Jewish or you’re not,” he wrote. Maybe this search was as much about my faith as it was about my heritage. Maybe I really was a Jew at heart, too.
How Can We Combat the Scourge of Gun Violence?
The scourge of gun violence is one that has affected so many of our neighbors, and we are commanded by Jewish tradition to act.
Don’t Yuck My Yum: Life Lessons from Summer Camp
When I feel the judgmental emotions or FOMO (fear of missing out) rising inside of me, I remind myself of a lesson I first learned as a counselor at URJ Camp Harlam, a Reform Jewish summer camp in Kunkletown, PA: “Don’t yuck someone else’s yum.” In other words, if someone else likes doing something and it makes them happy, then let them enjoy it – no matter whether or not you like it.
How One Congregation Maintains its Impressive Composting Program
Each year, the Glencoe Community Garden grows approximate 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of organic vegetables, all to be donated to food pantries and other non-profit agencies in the Chicago area.
"Using Judaism as a Cloak to Conceal Racism"
Figures show that an offensive statement against the Arab public is posted every 6 minutes, while a call for actual physical violence is posted every 27 minutes.