By Nina Fondiller Woldin Did you watch the debate last week? And more to the point, did the larger debate spark smaller political debates among your friends and family? Each candidate claimed their opponent was lying, and audiences around the world reacted in various ways: frustrated, disheartened, or even amused. In a time where each Continue Reading »
by Jill Maidhof I’m an Air Force brat whose heart still swells when I hear the sound of jet engines. One of my most vivid memories was being at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine, hearing the blare of an “alert” and watching my father, a pilot, get from the shower to the cockpit Continue Reading »
by Audrey Lichter Reflecting on a trip I recently took to“Jewish Spain,” I was thinking about the fact that there was little to see about Jewish Spain since the Jews were expelled in 1492 and most (if not all) of their buildings had been repossessed, and most of their holy sites are buried and lost Continue Reading »
by Michalee Merritt As I sit here and think about Shavuot, I think of the transition of the ancient Israelites into a religious community. We were given the Torah on Mount Sinai. It was a contract between us and G-d. My youngest son graduated from high school a few weeks ago. As the students were Continue Reading »
by Rabbi Debra Smith I find the times we are living in now to be particularly challenging and wearing. Looking back over my life, I can honestly say that these times are the most difficult and emotionally exhausting ones I have ever experienced. Being Jewish now is particularly frightening because of the steep increase in Continue Reading »
by Jill Maidhof I’ve been thinking about a question that I heard somehow at some time in my life: “What did you do in the war, Daddy?“ If, in 20 years, my children ask me “What did you do about the state of our country in 2024, Mommy?” my answer could very well be, “Well, I Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin Today is Yom HaZikaron, a day to honor and remember fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror. Tomorrow will be Yom Ha’atzmaut, and with blatant antisemitism exploding worldwide, I feel more grateful than ever for Israel. With blatant antisemitism exploding worldwide, I feel more grateful than ever for Israel. I just Continue Reading »
by Michalee Merritt Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) is today. Commemorating the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and the heroism of survivors and rescuers. Yom HaShoah certainly has a very different feel today than it has in years past. We say never again. Never forget. But look where we are! I am sitting Continue Reading »
By Rabbi Debra Smith On the surface, this Pesach was wonderful! One of our daughters flew in from Baltimore to spend the week with us in Florida. For the first time in many years, I was not leading a community Seder, but rather was a guest at two very different Seders, one hosted by family Continue Reading »
by Jill Maidhof Last week I was a bit stymied. The Jewish Journeys group I facilitate was scheduled to explore the unit Adding New Insights and Meaning to the Passover Seder, yet there was not a woman in the group who hadn’t participated in at least 40 Passover meals. What could I share with these sage veterans Continue Reading »
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