Orthodox Week Here at TRR: Rebbetzin Ruchi Koval

Our closer for Orthodox week is Rebbetzin Ruchi Koval, who, together with her husband Rabbi Sruly Koval, serves the awesome JFX community here in CLE.  Rebbetzin Koval, amongst her many other teaching and JFX responsibilities, is the author of Out of the Ortho Box, a blog whose mission is to “unite us through education, respect, … Continue reading →

Orthodox Week Here at TRR: Rabbi Michael Unterberg

Next up is Rabbi Michael Unterberg, who just left his teaching post at Fuchs Mizrachi School here in CLE to make aliyah at some point this summer.  He will be missed, not just at FMS, but in our community as a master teacher and all-around mensch.  Mazal Tov on your aliyah R’ Unterberg and family! … Continue reading →

Orthodox Week Here at TRR: Rabbi/Social Worker Evan Steele

This week begins my “5 Things” series.  I’ll be having guests post on the topic of “5 Things I’d Like You to Know About ______ Judaism.”  Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, and, I hope, Reconstructionist and Renewal Judaism.  I am really excited about this – I have some awesome people lined up!  They are smart, menschlich yidden, and … Continue reading →

Reform Judaism, by Rabbi Rebecca Schorr

This post was kindly written by my Blog Colleague Rabbi Rebecca Schorr of the blog Frume Sarah.  It gives a short, but comprehensive view of some core principles that define the Reform Movement.  This is by no means complete, but it addresses some questions we’ve had via a few posts on Out of the Ortho … Continue reading →

5 Things You May Not Know About Reform Judaism

This is really just a few facts.  My blog-bud Frume Sarah will be writing a guest post shortly that is more detailed about some of the things Reform Judaism does and does not believe.  But, to start, did you know that: 1) the Reform Movement originated in Germany in the nineteenth century, and that it … Continue reading →

5 Things I’d Like Non-Reform Jews to Know About Reform Jews

1) We are not secular. We are Reform Jews. 2) We have a love of God, Torah, and Israel. But probably not in the same way you do. Actually, really not in the same way you do. But valid and authentic nonetheless. 3) While many of us are not observant in the “traditional” way, most … Continue reading →

Passover Cleaning Cartoon . . . *sigh*

Oh, har har.  Look at that!  Get it?  Get it? What bothers me about this is that it, rather accurately, represents the insecurity and lack of authenticity many Reform Jews feel about themselves and their place on the Jewish spectrum.  Say I’m taking this too far, go ahead, but I can’t tell you how many … Continue reading →

Blessing for Bacon? So, Yeah, That Happened.

Teaching Hebrew school is always an adventure . . . you just never know what will happen on any given afternoon.  The kids are absolutely adorable – sweet, good children who probably really don’t want to be in Hebrew school on a Tuesday afternoon after a long day of school.  That said, most of them … Continue reading →

I don’t HAVE to do that . . . I’m REFORMED

Ok, let’s clear the air: A) “REFORMED” is an adjective.  “REFORM” is a verb or a noun. Definition of REFORMED: 1: amended by the removal of faults or abuses. as in, “Criminals and drug addicts can be reformed.” 2: (initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to Protestant churches, especially Calvinist as distinguished from Lutheran. as … Continue reading →

shhhh . . . I’m religious . . .

What’s that now?  You say Reform Jews are not Orthodox?  That’s true . . . I didn’t say Orthodox.  I said “religious“. Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values.[1] Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories … Continue reading →