God as Matchmaker: A Reflection on Adoption
Honoring Your Parents as You Empty Their House
Jews have blessings for almost every occasion. I recommend we recite one before emptying the contents of our parents’ home after they die.
Why the Ten Commandments Are Just What America Needs
Stricter adherence to the Ten Commandments might be just what America needs to restore trust in government and civility in political discourse.
Give Peace a Chance: Why All of Us Must Be Part of the Process
Israel’s peace process is frustrating, but if we are to survive here, it must be the one place where identity politics cannot shred our democracy.
What We Need to Know About Welcoming the Stranger
Like those Abraham welcomed into his tent, many in today’s world are without homes. Our Torah doesn’t allow us to pretend they are not our problem.
A Prayer for Wisdom During the U.S. Presidential Election
Election season is in full swing, and it’s been a difficult and contentious presidential election so far. This Election Day, think carefully, consider well, and cast your vote – and not just for the top spot of president. Vote in national, statewide, and local elections, too.
Listening and Hearing: It's How to Learn Our Stories
Torah is full of family stories; retelling them shapes our collective identity. We can learn them best by enhancing how we listen and how we hear them.
Raised Lutheran, I Found My Way Back to My Father's Faith
Judaism is where I found my home. As I learned more about it, I discovered that my dad had raised me with Jewish values; as a child, I just hadn’t realized it.
What Auschwitz Can Teach Us About the Future
The only thing I needed to see with my own eyes was the infamous sign over the main gate that reads ARBEIT MACHT FREI, “Work makes you free.”
JudaOSm: Consider This Next Time a Phone Rings During Services
In service, the ring of a phone serves as a rude disruption to our worship. But that same ring can also serve as a powerful and effective reminder.