Can my fiancé and I get married between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur?
Although Jewish weddings may take place on the days in between the Jewish High Holidays, it is generally discouraged because during that period, also known as the Days of Awe, we are focused on the solemn themes of the season.
I feel drawn to Reform Judaism but I am a queer woman who suffers from depression and anxiety. Is there room in Reform Judaism for someone like me?
How wonderful that you are seeking to find a religious home – not just a place, but one that resonates with your soul. Not only is there room for you in Reform Judaism, but we welcome you – with open arms, heart, and mind – and we need you! You have a lot to offer and we look forward to meeting you and to getting to know you!
I’m planning an unveiling. What do I need to know?
My mother passed away in late November and I am planning the unveiling. I was thinking of a day in May, June, or July, and I think it should be a Sunday. Are there any specific times or dates I must avoid?
Which part of the Torah portion is chanted on Shabbat each week?
Is there a suggested part of the parashah to chant each week?
Does a menorah have to have a specific design?
I want to make a menorah as a gift for a good friend of mine. If, due to design constraints, I cannot make the candle holders vertically uniform, would that be an issue?
Kombucha is made using a fermentation process. Is it kosher for Passover?
With the caveat that we are not kombucha experts, we think kombucha is okay for Passover.
Are we supposed to touch the mezuzah when we enter the room? What can we do for those who can’t reach the mezuzah?
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah - Nitzavim: Why Organ Donation is Jewish
Parashat Nitzavim features the phrase “choose life,” but what does it mean to choose life? One way of choosing life is by becoming an organ donor. Rabbi Jacobs discusses why this lifesaving choice is part of his Jewish values in this episode of On the Other Hand.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah: K’doshim: Loving Your Neighbor
This week in parashat K'doshim, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, wonders: who is your neighbor? Can you love them even if they are not like you? If—and when—you do, can it change your life and even someone else’s?
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah: Emor: Justice and Balance in Modern Times
This week Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, speaks about parashat Emor and asks: how do you enact justice in modern times to make the world more balanced? And how do you elevate the receiver -- not your own self, the giver?