life cycle

Five Stages of Soul

Simchat Torah: a day for reading — and connecting — the beginning and end of the Torah.The Torah begins with ...

Transmission of Torah: For Jews Only?

According to the National Jewish Population Survey, there are approximately 1.5 million non-Jews helping to raise Jewish families in the ...

On “Hava Nagila”

I am a music snob. People know this about me, and I deserve the title.  I have said hurtful things ...

Blessings beyond borders – an interfaith tale

Last Saturday evening I was given an opportunity to be part of a truly wonderful celebration – the Sweet 16 ...

Marching Towards Freedom With The Omer

We often flow unaware from one moment on the calendar to the next. There are too many times where we ...

Who Needs This Bar Mitzvah Anyway?

It was dry inside the Avalon Theatre in Washington, D.C.’s Chevy Chase neighborhood. The audience for the 22nd Washington Jewish Film ...