Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Rejoicing in the season
JEWS HAVE JUST gone through a drastic transition from one of the most solemn holidays in our year,…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Days of Awe lead to renewal
AS THE DAYS shorten, and the nights become cooler, we feel a twinge of sadness that another summer…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Children can discover empathy and themselves in a tradition of reading
“There is divine beauty in learning just as there is human beauty in tolerance” (Elie Wiesel).
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Seeing light and creation through a telescope
FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, light has been a crucial part of all religious rituals. Candles, fire, lights and awe…
Opinion
POINT OF VIEW: Religious freedom ignored in abortion debate
ALONG WITH THE belief that Judaism does not claim to have the ultimate “truth” about God, the almost…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Finding the courage to admit wrong
“Be strong and let your heart have courage” (Joshua 1:6).
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Demand truth and honesty in leadership
Throughout the Torah, we are taught the importance of honesty and justice. In Deuteronomy 16:18-2:19, the portion Shoftim…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: A search for change and freedom
“I love Passover because for me it is a cry against indifference, a cry for compassion” (Elie Wiesel).
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Keep the victims of war in your heart
“Nation shall not rise up against nation, nor shall they practice war anymore.” Isaiah’s words are in our…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Kabbalah looks at the nature of souls
Judaism does not focus on what happens after we die.
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Don’t let analysis prevent needed action
As we enter a new year, Jews have begun reading the book of Exodus, which tells our story…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: In dark times, bring back the light
One of the favorite moments of my day is walking out to my mailbox, usually before dawn, to…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Silence enables evil to thrive
We are taught in the Talmud that “The world rests on three things: justice, truth, and peace” (Avot…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Teaching our children through our actions
Jews regularly recite a prayer called the V’ahavtah, which comes from Deuteronomy and Numbers. The word V’ahavtah means…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Find healing through helping others
During the Jewish month of Elul, the month before Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, Jews are encouraged to…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Teach children through example of faith in action
“AND HE SHALL turn the heart of the parents to the children, and heart of the children to…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Seeking to right our wrongs
JEWISH TRADITION HAS always emphasized that we are created B’zelem Elohim, in God’s image, and we all have…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Finding the courage to stand up for truth
The Talmud says, “Truth is the seal of the Holy One, blessed be He.”
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: Stand strong against anti-Semitism
“Anti-Semitism is the hatred that never dies. Violence that begins with the Jews never ends with them. All…
Life
ISSUES OF FAITH: ‘Love thy neighbor’ a call to action
The central tenet for Jewish behavior is the commandment to “Love your neighbor as yourself” found in the…