Mormon missionaries meet modern Judaism

By Amy Klein
Published on May 8, 2008

A group of Mormon missionaries came to Palos Verdes' Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to hear a lecture by Rabbi Isaac Jeret of Congregation Ner Tamid, located right next door to the church. Jeret was one of three rabbis to address the Mormon missionary groups in an attempt to build further understanding between the two religious groups.

The rise of the independent b’nai mitzvah—bane or boon?

By Jane Ulman
Published on September 27, 2007

Gabriel Shacket stood on the bimah, before the Holy Ark, and led the morning service for a group of 75 family members and friends. He recited the prayers and blessings, chanted from the Torah and delivered a speech. In short, the 13-year-old became a bar mitzvah.

Rethinking—and revitalizing—religious schools

By Julie G Fax
Published on August 16, 2007

A growing number of synagogues around Los Angeles and throughout the country are upending the time-honored idea of Sunday school.

A Place at the Table

By Rabbi David Baron
Published on March 29, 2007

Has the Passover seder become a glorified Jewish meal or rote obligatory ritual, and is there a message here? Even in the realm of traditional recipes, too many of our young have not been taught to create the Passover experience or replicate the foods of past generations. The next generation needs to accept the responsibility of passing on the lesson or it dies with us.

Whither the First Born?

By Rabbi Joel Rembaum
Published on January 4, 2007

One can learn a great deal about how not to parent by reading the stories of the dysfunctional matriarchal/patriarchal families that comprise a substantial proportion of the narrative in Genesis.

On Thanksgiving,  open your hand to the poor and needy

By Rabbi Arnold Rachlis
Published on November 22, 2006

Thanksgiving is the holiday to which most American Jews fully relate. It's based on the biblical Sukkot, and it's the American holiday most associated with family gatherings and food. And yet, there is much more to the holiday than stuffing and pumpkin pie.

Finding Mr. and Ms. Right

By Rabbi N. Daniel Korobkin
Published on November 16, 2006

Of all the regular columns in The Jewish Journal, I enjoy the Singles column the most. You know, the one typically written by a 30-something still out there, searching for
Mr. or Ms. Right.

Special-Needs Bill: Good IDEA or Not?

By Wendy J. Madnick
Published on January 6, 2005

Under IDEA, students who require special services -- such as speech therapy, sign language interpreters or resource teachers -- must receive them by attending local public schools. Although some parents have successfully negotiated or even sued to allow their child to attend a private school and still receive financial support from their district for those services, for the most part, parents who want their child to receive a religious education must pay for additional services themselves.

Court Writes Off Deductions

By Wendy J. Madnick
Published on February 7, 2002

In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.