Voting Rights and Responsibilities: Reflecting on the VRA
As the Voting Rights Act turns 54 this year, we lament the sixth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision. As we look ahead to the 2020 general election next year, we must continue the fight for our fundamental right and embrace our civic duty to vote.
This Congregation Offers a Safe Space To Celebrate Passover
For individuals handling addiction and in recovery, the act of engaging with others as part of Jewish holidays and celebrations can be difficult.
How One Congregation Engages Israelis in Synagogue Life
Until recently, engaging Jewishly has not been easy for Israelis in Santa Barbara, CA, where religious life and Jewish identity are quite different than back home.
Gangsters, Immigrants, and Sweet’N Low
Rich Cohen, a prolific writer, is the author of 13 books, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, and co-wrote the television series, “Vinyl.”
This Congregation Started a Summer Camp for Refugee Kids – Led by a Teen
Congregation B’nai Israel in Sacramento, CA, created Camp Nefesh, a full-service day camp for newly arrived refugees. To learn more about this 2019 Belin Award-winning initiative, we spoke with Lucy Beckett, the teenager who dreamt up the concept, as well as Denise Crevin, the congregation’s director of education, and Sharon Rogoff of Women of B’nai Israel.
Lessons in Gratitude from a Jewish Humorist
We sat down with bestselling author, editor, and commentator A.J. Jacobs to talk about lessons he’s learned about thankfulness from his over-the-top social experiments.
The Thread that Connects the Tree of Life Synagogue, Kristallnacht, and Tishah B’Av
In the year since the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA, I’ve been thinking about the antisemitic thread that runs through the tragedy.
A Monthly Social Justice Initiative Helps One Congregation Thrive
Belin Award-winning Temple Beth-El in San Antonio, TX, applied the idea of breath and soul (nefesh) to monthly learning opportunities around social justice themes.
Spice Up Your Cooking With Help From This Israeli Chef
Lior Lev Sercarz owns La Boîte, a biscuits and spice shop in New York City, where he blends spices for some of the world’s best restaurants, as well as home cooks.
This Restaurant Is a Beacon of Hope for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Kerry Brodie runs Emma’s Torch, a non-profit social enterprise with paid culinary training and job placement for refugees, asylum seekers, and human trafficking victims.