Posts Tagged: judaism
Rosh Hashanah and the Shmitah
Our New Year starts on the evening of September 6 (year 5782 in the Jewish calendar), and ushers in the new Sabbatical year. In Hebrew...
If You Don’t Love Your Synagogue, Try Something New
It is only a month until the “Days of Awe,” the Yamim Noraim. Actually, I have no idea where the term "High Holidays" comes from....
How the Hebrew Bible Helped Birth Modern Democracy
Jews brought many wonderful things to modernity, but one of the greatest Jewish breakthroughs arose due to Renaissance Christian efforts. This innovation was “republican exclusivism,”...
Why Religious Parties Being Left Out of the New Government Could Really Help Israel
The personal attacks on Naftali Bennett coming from the Haredi parties in Israel -- because he has been instrumental in excluding them from power and...
Mr. Cohen of Ballachulish Ferry
Last week, I gave a Zoom talk for the Scottish Jewish Archive center. I spoke about my experiences as the rabbi of the largest Jewish...
Why Judaism — and the World — Needs a Messianic Vision
The course of human civilization, if one can use that term, has progressed and continues to, in a series of slow cycles. The German philosopher...
The Problem With Quick-Fix Jewish Wisdom
2021 has begun, and the pandemic is still looming. So many aspects of our lives feel like they remain on hold. In the chaos and uncertainty...
Lawmakers Urge Biden to Swiftly Appoint Ambassador on Antisemitism
JNS.org – A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging US President Joe Biden to swiftly nominate an Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, citing the...
Being a Righteous Jew Requires Showing Kindness to Others
Have you ever heard of Riceman? Probably not. He’s a YouTuber who will turn 28-years-old this Saturday. Born in Shanghai, China, his real name is...
The Power of ‘Thank You’
The 19th-century British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) is best remembered for his very focused personal ambition, coupled with his ability to allow political expediency...
COVID-19, Haredi Jews and the Error of ‘Piety’
One of the most disturbing features of the pandemic has been the behavior of huge swathes of the Haredi community across the globe. There have, thank...
We Should Embrace Being the Chosen People
"Imagine." It is John Lennon’s most iconic song. The music video begins evocatively with John and Yoko walking through the mist in their large garden....
Why Did God Expel the Jews From His Home?
As we start returning to our synagogues, it is important to remember that our temporary expulsion was not simply an unintended consequence of a biological...
Amid Coronavirus Crisis, Chief Rabbis From Around World Organize #KeepingItTogether Shabbat Initiative
Amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, a group of chief rabbis from around the world have organized a Shabbat observance initiative -- under the banner of...
