Rabbis Without Borders
Rabbis Without Borders is a dynamic forum for exploring contemporary issues in the Jewish world and beyond. Written by rabbis of different denominations, viewpoints, and parts of the country, Rabbis Without Borders is a project of Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership.
What Are You Doing Tomorrow?
As a rabbi who is blessed with the humbling privilege of leading her congregation, after the High Holy Days have ...
The True, Smelly, Dirty, World of the Sukkah
Sukkot, which begins Sunday, is called by our sages, “The season of our rejoicing.” But why should we rejoice?Just this ...
Dear School Officials, Please Don’t Excuse Absence from School Today. Encourage It.
Dear School Officials,Today is Yom Kippur, the most sacred day of the Jewish calendar. It is the Day of Atonement, ...
Shul-Shopping? Don’t Do It Now
The High Holidays are the worst days to experience the personality and atmosphere of a synagogue.
When White Rabbis Talk About Race
White rabbis are talking about race. Over the last few years, sermons about race and racial issues have come to ...
Science and Rosh Hashanah Do Mix
What did you do this Rosh Hashanah? I spent my holiday in synagogue applying the scientific method, snacking on honey-flavored ...
The Purpose of Beginnings and the Beginnings of Purpose
A few years ago, there was a terrific newspaper cartoon from the strip “Non Sequitur” entitled “The Philosophical Showdown.” It showed ...
All We Do is Offend Each Other; So We Don’t Talk
My dear friend Tom was excited to greet his eldest daughter and new college friends home from college. “So, Erica,” ...
Brotherhood of Erstwhile Enemies
We were two Christian Palestinians, four Muslim Palestinians and six Jewish Israelis. The Christians were from Bethlehem, both veterans of ...
Shabbat Is Not Orthodox
We are a diverse Jewish community. We hold different views on Israel. We have different understandings of Torah. There are ...