Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Cellist’s path to Judaism

by Kylie Jane Wakefield

When cellist Lynn Harrell would play “Kol Nidre” at his synagogue on Yom Kippur, he felt more than the notes and the melody. It was through the. . .

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The ordeal of the Sotah: Parashat Naso (Numbers 4:21-7:89)

By Rabbi Anne Brener

In the late ’70s, I carried a beeper when it was my turn to be on call for a rape-victim helpline. One evening I had it clipped to my jacket during. . .

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Grace in the wilderness: Parashat Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20)

by Rabbi Mike Comins

The book of Bamidbar, literally “in the desert” or “in the wilderness,” is a hard book to read. Over and over, plagues break out and. . .

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Q&A with Rabbi Ed Feinstein

By Susan Freudenheim

On May 11, Rabbi Ed Feinstein, senior rabbi at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, will be feted for his two decades of service to the synagogue. He talks. . .

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

How to become a Jew

by Rabbi Neal Weinberg

There are a variety of options for how to begin the process, but all involve study with a rabbi. Some people study with an individual rabbi for a. . .

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Conversion 101

by Kylie Jane Wakefield

Conversion to Judaism is not easy. It requires a change in beliefs, actions and lifestyle. It involves extensive study, practice, a leap of faith, a. . .

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Becoming Jewish: Tales from the Mikveh

By Susan Freudenheim

Late on a recent Wednesday afternoon, Judith Golden and Suzanne Rosenthal perched at their desks in a small room in the depths of American Jewish. . .

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Study: Jewish summer camps increasingly attune to special needs kids

JTA

A study released by the Foundation for Jewish Camp showed overnight camps are growing increasingly aware of the needs of children with disabilities.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

What happened at Sinai

By Rabbi Dov Fischer

This week’s double Torah portion, Behar-Bechukotai, begins: “And the Lord spoke to Moshe at Mount Sinai” (Leviticus 25:1). At the end of our. . .

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The cure for anger: Parashat Emor (Leviticus 21:1-24:23)

by Rabbi Avivah W. Erlick

Life is not easy. In fact, at times it’s downright infuriating. Our natural tendency is to want to blame someone, and the easiest target is God. We. . .

Monday, April 22, 2013

Rabbi leads interfaith service at Boston Marathon bombing site

JTA

About 100 people attended a rabbi-led interfaith service for the victims of the Boston Marathon attack at the site of the bombing.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Food, inspired by Israel

by Kylie Jane Wakefield

Sandy Leon, 42, grew up Catholic, but she never connected with the religion. Three years ago, she took a trip to Israel to see if, perhaps, Judaism. . .

Friday, April 19, 2013

Who is like you?

by Rabbi Joshua Hoffman

Nathan was a young man in his 20s, living in Gulfport, Miss. He lived with his mother and grandmother in a small three-bedroom home a little over a. . .

Thursday, April 18, 2013

How to make b’nai mitzvah meaningful

by Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben

I was meeting with an upcoming bat mitzvah girl the other day and talking with her about the Torah (what else?). I pointed out all the books that. . .

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

A survival guide for parents of b’nai mitzvah kids

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner

So you’re planning a bar or bat mitzvah? Mazel tov! You may feel overwhelmed by decisions and details. I certainly did when it was time for my son,. . .

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Bat Mitzvah at the Kotel: Is it possible?

by Michele Chabin

Every week, dozens of bar mitzvah boys from Israel and the Diaspora celebrate their rite of passage at the Kotel, also known as the Western Wall,. . .

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Creating inclusiveness at interfaith b’nai mitzvah

by Arlene Chernow

For interfaith couples who choose a Jewish identity for their families — even ones who have shared holidays with their extended families and. . .

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Including peers with special needs can be part of a teen’s transition from child to adult

Room for one more

For many teens, a bar or bat mitzvah is not just a rite of passage and an embrace of a community’s Jewish values; it also is an opportunity to make. . .

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Healing the broken – Parashat Tazria-Metzora (Leviticus 12:1-15:33)

By Rabbi Laura Geller

Most people try really hard to avoid having their bar or bat mitzvah on the Shabbat when we read Tazria-Metzora. I know this not only because I am a. . .

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Kosher Without Sacrifice?

by Rabbi Yehuda Hausman

The most elaborate, comprehensive and effective system for the prevention of animal cruelty was not invented by the FDA or even PETA; it was devised. . .

Monday, April 1, 2013

Pope Francis, Rome chief rabbi exchange holiday greetings

JTA

Pope Francis and Rome’s Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni exchanged greetings to mark Passover and Easter.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

The chametz within

by Chazzan Danny Maseng

Rejoice! Spring has arrived, and Pesach is here. The time of our liberation is at hand. The Exodus from our narrow straits is re-enacted once more.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Save the self-pity, choices abound for Passover meals

by Helen Nash, JTA

For the many who feel overwhelmed by Passover because of the demands of cooking without leaven, a word or two: That should not be an obstacle.

Friday, March 22, 2013

For your seder table

The following text is excerpted from “The Bronfman Haggadah,” written by Edgar Bronfman with illustrations by Jan Aronson (Rizzoli, 2012).