synagogue

High Holidays for the Secular/Cultural/Spiritual but not Religious/ Jew-ish Jew

To say this year will be a different way to mark the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur ...

Welcoming Synagogue Diversity

I feel at home at this synagogue because I have never been made to feel like a token.

Mark Twain, A Biblical Drama, And a Southern Synagogue

A special production recently took place in Natchez, Mississippi

Shabbat Shalom – You’re Doing It Wrong!

My family hadn’t been to synagogue in awhile. Even though I’m a Jewish professional myself, it happens—largely because while I ...

Towards A More Perfect Union

It’s Monday evening, July 25, and I’m watching the Democratic National Convention. Senator Cory Booker, a dynamic and powerful speaker ...

Why Do So Many Jews Ignore Shavuot?

Shavuot has become the Rodney Dangerfield of Jewish holidays.

The Unsung Heroes of the Synagogue

Like many who grew up in a synagogue, I can probably say that I had more opportunities to hang out with the ...

#TBT: The Orthodox Shul Dedicated in the Mississippi Delta in January 1923

Greenwood, Mississippi is a small town nestled in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Today, it’s known for being home ...

Modern Maccabees: An African Hanukkah Story

This year, Hanukkah has special meaning for the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda. Hanukkah is not a major holiday like Shabbat or ...

Coming Out & Combining Names

After 11 years of marriage, my wife Kate and I are finally going to change our last names.I’m a little ...