By Rabbi Deb Smith This past week we welcomed the month of Elul, the month that precedes the special time of the High Holy Days in Tishrei. Elul is typically a time when we reflect on our past year and think about how we can repair fractured relationships with others and with ourselves and how Continue Reading »
By Audrey Lichter My life could have been different. I grew up in a strong culturally Jewish home where our whole Brooklyn NY apartment building was almost exclusively Jewish. However, my Jewish education was minimal; hating religious school and knowing little about Jewish history, holidays or traditions (except for Chanukah and Passover). If it wasn’t Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin I recently previewed the film Tragic Awakening by the well known Canadian-Israeli film writer and producer, Rabbi Raphael Shore. This powerful documentary explores the roots of antisemitism through the insights of Muslim Zionist Rawan Osman, and delves into the historical and cultural genesis of Jew-hatred, revealing its impact not only on Continue Reading »
The Jewish Day of Love, Tu B’Av, will be celebrated on the evening of August 18, and today, August 19, 2024! This holiday is also known as the 15th day of the month of Av. The greeting for Tu B’Av is “Chag ahava sameach,” which means “happy love holiday.” Tu B’Av was almost unnoticed in Continue Reading »
By Rabbi Deb Smith I have always thought of Tisha B’ Av as a remembering and a commemoration of individual events in Jewish and world history. For me the solemnity of this holy day has been so meaningful over the years. I have studied and taught about the historical events surrounding the destruction of the Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin I am reminded daily of the chaos in our world which seems to be growing more and more intense. Often I hear the situation described as the struggle between good and evil, which has led some to ask, “Why would God permit evil to exist?” Or, “How do we reconcile faith Continue Reading »
by Jill Maidhof Three good friends are on a hike, walking each day and enjoying hot dogs and beer each night. One evening, an oversized globe glides in their direction and floats just feet away from them. Not only that, but it speaks, saying “Pick up the stones on your path tomorrow and at the Continue Reading »
By Nina Fondiller Woldin It’s early morning, the water is like glass, and you can feel that the day will be warm and humid. Ducks swim by silently, and fish PLOP as they jump. Dragonflies buzz on the surface of the water, and butterflies explore the tall grass on the shore. You are reminded of Continue Reading »
I have been thinking about Community a lot lately. Where you can find a community, how do you define community and what makes up a community? My friends are a community. My mah jong group is a community. My book group is a community. The parents of my kids sports teams are a community. My Continue Reading »
By Rabbi Deb Smith This week Chai Mitzvah began a new five-session series called Critical Conversations. Our first session focused on the topic of “Modern Day Idolatry (Lies About Power).” We had a very energetic conversation about the definition of monotheism and what it means to believe in idols. How does the concept of idols differ Continue Reading »
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