May 2016

Which Judaism is the Authentic One?

Last week I met one of my neighbors, an Orthodox Jewish woman. She asked what I do for a living, ...

Packing for Shabbat at Camp

Shabbat at camp is magical.  Shabbat at camp means time to relax with friends, guitars, singing, and of course, lots ...

When Counselors Go To Camp

Where do seasoned camp veterans go to learn more about camp? Why camp, of course! Camp Be’chol Lashon is the ...

What Makes A Rabbi A Rabbi?

Rabbis are rabbis in no small part by the work they do, pastoral, ritual, social justice, organizational, all informed by ...

A Shout-Out to Shavuot

If you ask me, Shavuot doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Judaism has a lot of holidays, and it’s understandable ...

No Room at the Inn for Interfaith Weddings?

I officiate at a lot of weddings. Many of those ceremonies are between a Jewish partner and a partner of ...

Contextualizing the Conversation about Women’s Aliyot in the Orthodox Community

Women receiving aliyot (being called to the Torah) in Orthodox synagogues is a relatively new phenomenon. Its most prominent proponents are ...

Reflections on Remembrance: Memorial Day and More

Memorial Day is approaching, and while I’m usually swept up in the parades, beach trips and community cookouts, this year ...

Israeli, Ethiopian and Gay

What does it mean to be young, Ethiopian, Israeli and gay? Recently to of the leaders of KALA an Israeli ...

Is Gossip Always Evil?

It’s pretty clear that Judaism doesn’t like the idea of gossip. In fact, the Hebrew phrase for gossip is “lashon hara,” “the ...