Words have power. We all know this. Judaism has very specific things to say about how we use words, especially negative words. Durning this time of the Omer and Sefirot, a period dedicated to introspection and self-improvement, I thought this was appropriate to post. I found this blog post that Ruchi from Out of the Ortho … Continue reading
Upcoming Posts in the Next 2 Months
Wanted to share a list of my current drafts, guest posts I have lined up, and what I hope to post in the next 2 months (in no particular order). This will give all my readers a sense of the direction I am taking. My goal is education, and understanding between Jews of all stripes … 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
Heartbreaking
The horror in France is heartbreaking. Here is a letter from the widow/mother of the slain rabbi and children. Please pick at least one mitzvah to perform in their memory.
Kosher, Part III: Real People, Real Food: Rabbi Joel Mosbacher
Joel has served as the rabbi of Beth Haverim Shir Shalom in Mahwah, New Jersey, since 2001. He is the husband of Elyssa and the Abba to Ari and Lev. Joel and his family have taken on issues of the environment, food, and sustainability in the most serious manner, and in the context of their … Continue reading
Kosher, Part III: Real People, Real Food: Dan R. Weiss
Dan is the Middle School Judaics Principal extraordinaire at Gross Schechter Day School, in Pepper Pike, Ohio. On a personal note, Dan has been an amazing teacher and mentor to my son Lev, who will be graduating from Gross Schechter in June (ACK!). The Wikipedia entry for “mentch” has Dan’s picture on it. He is … Continue reading
Kosher, Part III: Real People, Real Food: Christine Weiss
This next post is by Christine Weiss, one of the true leaders of the Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple community, and woman I am proud to call my friend. Christine has done a lot of studying about Judaism in general, and this topic in particular. She spent several months interviewing older women (14 of them) from … 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
The Devil Wears Prada
Watched “The Devil Wears Prada” last night. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Of course, Meryl Streep could read the phone book and I would probably enjoy it. Mama Mia notwithstanding. “Phone book.” I just totally dated myself. Speaking of, I am cleaning out my office in preparation for putting our house … Continue reading
the Rebbetzin Rocks 