The World Has A Short Memory
On October 8 the world was on our side. No right-minded human being could condemn any action Israel would take after the terrifying, brutal, sickening massacre the Israeli people suffered […]
I March For…
On Tuesday, November 14, at a most absurd time in the morning, I joined 183 other Minnesotan Jews (let’s just call it 180 for Chai) on a trek to our […]
Africa Night To Honor Israel An Unexpected Surprise
Last week, I attended an annual event that I have ignored, even scoffed at, in years past. What is the motivation, I wondered, for African churches in Minnesota to plan […]
Jewish Great-Grandson Of A Righteous Gentile At Home In St. Louis Park
Judaism hasn’t had saints. We’ve had judges and prophets and kings in the Tanach, but really no saints. We’ve had great rabbis and scholars over the centuries, but no saints. […]
Teshuvah and The Environment
As we engage during the High Holidays in the process of teshuvah/repentance or change, we mostly focus on how we have hurt other people and how we want to be […]
Trying to Attain Perfection In An Imperfect World
“The place that those who do teshuvah can attain; — those who are completely righteous can never attain. Be-makom she-ba’alei teshuvah omdin ein tzadikkim gemurim ye-kholin l’amode.“ (Tractate Berakhot 34b) […]
Who By Water and Who By Fire
Look around you on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur as the powerful, frightening piyyut (liturgical poem) of UnetaneTokef is sung during the Musaf prayer. This awe-inspiring section depicts how we […]
What Happens When My Guests Don’t Eat Rosh Hashanah Staples?
Got a question? Fill out this form to submit your anonymous question to be answered in a future column. Dear Miriam, I am having a number of people over for […]
What Makes This Apple Cake Recipe Jewish?
My father’s family is squarely Ashkenazi: Lithuanians and Poles who came through Ellis Island, raised families in New York, some retired to Florida, others made their way west to California […]
Elul, My Favorite Month
I know, I know. The month of Elul should inspire awe and fear. I have heard stories of people in previous generations who would tremble when Rosh Chodesh Elul (the […]