A Teacher’s Mistake

By Beit T'shuvah
Published on March 21, 2013

Mothers, Sons & Lessons in Love

By Ilana Angel
Published on March 4, 2012

Jury Duty!

By Julia Bendis
Published on May 23, 2011

Analysis: Israel seeks to change rules of the game with Gaza assault

By Leslie Susser
Published on December 29, 2008

In a news conference on the first night of the fighting, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spelled out the war's aims: to create a new security reality in the south in which Israeli civilians can live without fear of rocket or terror attacks.

Day at the beach—Omaha Beach

By Raphael J. Sonenshein
Published on December 11, 2008

June 6, 1944, may have been the most important day of the 20th century. The Allied invasion of France breached Hitler's Atlantic Wall and decisively turned the war against the Nazi regime.

Beauty can arise from tragedy

Published on September 24, 2008

As the events unfolded, it was a story that could only be measured against the biblical account of Job. It was everyone's worst nightmare.

Turning 60

Published on July 16, 2008

I have learned that finding peace is more important than being right, but that I can't make peace with someone who doesn't see me, nor they with me if I don't see them.

Lessons of gratitude

By Rabbi Dov Fischer
Published on December 27, 2007

In the course of a lifetime, we encounter any number of friends.

Some are friends by happenstance -- friends who happen to attend school with us, happen to work where we do or reside near us. When we graduate from school, change careers or relocate, most such friends slowly disappear from our lives -- and we from theirs.

Political Journal

By Idan Ivri
Published on August 25, 2005

Racially motivated brawls at Jefferson High School this spring made the school appear, at times, like a miniwar zone. Which makes it especially interesting that L.A. Unified School District (LAUSD) officials are learning lessons from Israeli and West Bank schools, where violence, even terrorism, is an ever-present undercurrent.

The person bringing those lessons to Los Angeles is USC professor Ron Avi Astor, who has spent his career studying school violence in Israel and the United States. His newest book, co-written with Israeli professor Rami Benbenishty of Jerusalem's Hebrew University, is titled, "School Violence in Contest: Culture, Neighborhood, Family, School, and Gender." The two scholars conducted studies encompassing 30,000 Israeli students at a time.

Writer, Cast Find Faith in ‘Lessons’

By Susan Josephs
Published on July 28, 2005

Wendy Graf sat in a synagogue several years ago listening to a rabbi's sermon. "She was talking about experiencing a traumatic event and how her faith had been sorely tested," Graf recalled. "That really got me thinking."

Dive Into Home Swim Lessons

By Galia Yardeni
Published on May 26, 2005

One of the biggest dangers for children during summer is drowning.

New Tallit Bag Trend Threads Family Ties

By Jane Ulman
Published on March 10, 2005

Every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a group of eight mothers and grandmothers meets at Lani's Needlepoint in Studio City. There, under Lani Silver's expert guidance -- one diagonal, tied-down or decorative stitch at a time --they have cumulatively needlepointed more than 20 tallit bags.

A Gift of Love

By Reb Mimi Feigelson
Published on February 10, 2005

Often, when sitting with my students, I find myself asking them, "What do you want?" and then "What do you need?" The answer to both these questions inevitably is not the same. I have learned this the hard way, like many other lessons. While I may have wanted something from someone, when I was honest with myself I realized it was not necessarily what I needed. Or perhaps not that I needed at that exact moment.

Yeladim

By Abby Gilad
Published on January 6, 2005

Happy New Year! It is back to school and back to lessons. In this week's parshah, Pharaoh learns a few lessons, too – seven, to be exact.

On Jewish Mothers

By Annie Korzen
Published on October 21, 2004

I was raised on Mosholu Parkway in the Bronx by a woman who could have taken Olympic gold in Jewish mothering. Sonia, Abie-the-tailor's wife, never stopped fearing for my life.

All the ChildrenAll the ChildrenAll the ChildrenAll the Children

By Rabbi Elazar Muskin
Published on October 7, 2004

On the eve of Simchat Torah, many synagogues auction the three major honors of the day, with proceeds benefiting the synagogue or other Jewish institutions.

All the Children

By Rabbi Elazar Muskin
Published on October 7, 2004

On the eve of Simchat Torah, many synagogues auction the three major honors of the day, with proceeds benefiting the synagogue or other Jewish institutions.

A Parent’s Mercy

By Dafna Breines
Published on September 16, 2004

It was about this time last year that my 2 1¼2-year-old son decided to begin his terrible twos. At first we hoped that we'd been given a reprieve, but we soon discovered otherwise. He was apparently intent on making up for lost time.

Two Educators Earn Honors

By Journal Report
Published on July 1, 2004

Barry Koff earned a state teaching credential and completed a master's degree in Jewish education through Chicago's Spertus College. Yet his first career as an on-air radio broadcaster comes through in his classroom.

Lost in Translation

By Rabbi N. Daniel Korobkin
Published on May 13, 2004

Imagine a foreigner hearing some American idioms for the first time, and the ensuing confusion.

Trial of King David Sabotages Lessons

By Rabbi David Eliezrie
Published on May 6, 2004

I chose not to attend Tarbut's trial of King David. Billed as "the people against King David," it promised to be a trial that was "3,000 years in the making."

Lessons of the Season

By Rabbi Debra Orenstein
Published on February 5, 2004

Imagine the Jewish calendar as three concentric circles: the Torah reading cycle, the holiday cycle and your personal life cycle.

Final Lesson

By Rabbi Mordecai Finley
Published on January 8, 2004

In this week's Torah portion, Vayechi, we have the most intimate description of a deathbed scene and the most elaborate description of a le'vayah (funeral) contained in the Torah.

Permission to Grieve

By Rabbi Lisa Edwards
Published on November 20, 2003

Years ago, one of my colleagues had the awesome task of officiating at the funeral of a 9-year-old girl killed by a car while riding her bicycle.

The Protocols Come to L.A.—in Russian

By Si Frumkin
Published on October 23, 2003

The "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" have come to Los Angeles.

Where You Stand

By Rabbi Allen I. Freehling
Published on August 28, 2003

We are standing before God and God is standing before us -- especially during this particular time, when certain fundamental liberties are being denied individuals and when justice is being withheld from specific groups -- all in the name of "homeland security."

Rebels and Leaders

By Rabbi Allen I. Freehling
Published on July 3, 2003

Korah forces us to examine the motives of those who are either appointed or elected officials. Furthermore, we're encouraged to probe the reasons why some people attempt to become self-appointed leaders.

7 Days In Arts

Published on May 29, 2003

Linda Richman types be warned. The American Cinematheque's "Can't Stop the Musicals!! A Celebration of Hollywood Musicals of the 1970s and 1980s" presents the plotz-inducing Barbra Streisand Double Feature tonight.

Light From Sorrow

By Irene Brown
Published on February 6, 2003

As an aerospace writer, I have watched 87 crews slip the bonds of Earth's gravity and rocket away into space.

A Thanksgiving to Fill the Spiritby

By Elliot Fein
Published on November 21, 2002

On the evening before Thanksgiving, my synagogue, Congregation Eilat in Mission Viejo, always gets together with a neighboring church, Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist, for an interfaith service.

Israel’s Homeland Security: Lessons Learned, Lessons Shared

By Rep. Jane Harman
Published on September 19, 2002

Over Labor Day weekend, I stared across the Israeli-Lebanese border at yellow Hezbollah flags and a large billboard with the horrifying image of a beheaded Israeli.

Washington’s “What, Me Worry?” War

By James D. Besser
Published on September 19, 2002

Finally, it's over: the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks in Washington and New York was a media extravaganza that provided a blend of remembrance, healing and strong TV ratings.

What We’ve Learned

By Wendy J. Madnick
Published on September 5, 2002

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Dr. Larry Eisenberg, president of the West Coast Region of the Orthodox Union, was in Toronto for a cousin's wedding.

The Icemen Cometh

By Teresa Strasser
Published on February 21, 2002

Rarely can one see the human struggle as simply and clearly manifest as it is in Olympic figure skating. I live according to its teachings.

Wonders, Wizardry and Magic

By Rabbi Toba August
Published on November 15, 2001

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" opens in movie theaters today. Will it just be a magical adventure that entertains us, or are there deeper lessons that our Jewish souls can learn?

Below are seven middot (Jewish values) found in Pirkei Avot and in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the first book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. You can use these themes as a guide as you enjoy the movie.

Lessons from Israel’s War on Terror

By Larry Derfner
Published on September 20, 2001

When President Bush talks of fighting a war against terror until victory, of stamping out terror, it's probably worth looking at Israel's decades-long attempt at doing the same.

Wordless Lessons

By Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein
Published on July 12, 2001

The proverbial apple may not fall far from the tree. Often, though, the question is: which tree?

Read Me a Story

By Diane Arieff
Published on July 31, 1997

Sure, the children's shelves at bookstores are crowded with schlocky merchandising tie-ins and humorless "P.C." stories that groan under the weight of their own environmental and multi-culti lessons. But look a bit more carefully; you'll find the kinds of books that create those magical moments between adults and children.