Rabbis for Obama seen as a first in American politics; Michelle Obama’s rabbi cousin signs up

Published on September 17, 2008

The grass-roots organization was formed when two Chicago-area rabbis came to the Democratic candidate's campaign wanting to help counter rumors that they feel have been spread about the senator

Chicago rabbis organize nationwide Rabbis for Obama group, 300 sign on [VIDEO]

Published on September 10, 2008

More than 300 rabbis from across the country and across the denominations are publicly backing Barack Obama for president. Said the rabbis: 'We feel it is our duty as Jewish leaders to fight for the truth and against Lashon Hara.'

The torch has been passed

By Steve Greenberg
Published on June 12, 2008

Iranian Jews grapple with tragic death and violence in the community

By Karmel Melamed
Published on June 12, 2008

Bianca Khalili's death is just one of the recent incidents of community distress that have left many local Iranian Jews speculating among themselves, unsure of how to address violence

A Persian tragedy

By David Suissa
Published on June 12, 2008

The most important thing I can say to all my Persian friends is that before we are anything, we are all Jews. What binds us together is not just our humanity, but the collective Jewish identity we forged at Sinai some 3,300 years ago.

To tell the truth

By Rabbi Dov Fischer
Published on April 10, 2008

Parshat Acharey Mot (Leviticus 16:1-18:30)

The traditional English translation for the disease tzora'at that is eponymous with this week's Torah portion, Metzora, is "leprosy." However, as our commentators explain, biblical leprosy was something very different from the bacterial leprosy of modern times that is attributed to the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. Biblical leprosy traces to a different kind of disease, an infection permeating the spirit and the soul, the disease of lashon hara (or its Ashkenazic variant spelling, lashon hara): evil talk, tale bearing and gossip.