Digital Judaism: Is This The Way?
In the eighth episode of The Mandalorian, we learn that being Mandalorian is not a race but a creed. It is a way of life defined by the values one […]
Two Brachot for the COVID-19 Pandemic
I have had the great zechut (privilege) and mazal (good fortune) these past four months to facilitate several dozen dialogues, seminars and digital book clubs related to my new volume […]
Never Alone In Fears
I am scared. I am posting positive words and asking my friends how they are, but it is a call from a friend as she cries because she is losing […]
Stopping With The Kissing
The first thing we did was stop kissing the Torah.
‘Pandemic,’ A Poem
What if you thought of it as the Jews consider the Sabbath— the most sacred of times? Cease from travel. Cease from buying and selling. Give up, just for now, […]
Refugee Shabbat: A Jewish Response To The Global Refugee Crisis
(Editor’s note: Temple Israel announced that the weekend events would be rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic). On March 20-21 on Shabbat Vayakhel, upwards of 350 congregations, located mainly in […]
Feeling Blue
Log into any social media platform right now, and you will see a wide variety of traditional and postmodern Hamentaschen! Sure poppyseed and prune filling make an appearance, as well […]
“Felt” Like Making Hamentaschen
Purim’s almost here, so poppyseeds, apricot jam and even prunes are filling kitchens, as Hamentaschen baking is in full swing. Hamantaschen are the traditional fruit or poppyseed filled triangular cookies […]
11 Reasons Purim Is The Perfect Vegan Holiday
There are many connections between veganism and the Jewish festival of Purim: According to the Talmud, Queen Esther, the heroine of the Purim story, was a vegetarian, one step away […]
Making An Accessible Jewish Community
It started with YALA Manager Charley Smith when I Googled ways to become involved locally, 2 years later, after another brain surgery, I saw a posting for 248CAN. I conducted […]