synagogue

Requiem for a Suburban Shul

How do you close a synagogue? This is the question I have been confronting for the past few months as ...

The Tupelo Tornado, Temple, and Church: A Story of Friendship

Today’s guest post comes from Bob M. Schwartz, a member of Temple B’nai Israel in Tupelo, Mississippi. His thoughts can ...

What is a Community?

A few days ago, I ran across an article asking a rabbi what a person could do instead of going ...

Take Back the Night (and the Day)

Rushing into a conference midway through a speech, I scanned the room for a seat then stopped, startled. Had I entered the ...

Let’s Spread Some GOOD News

Dr. Monique Katz, a member of JOFA’s Board of Directors, once shared a d’var Torah that has stuck with me ...

An Old Shul Still Paving the Way

It is funny to celebrate the 120th anniversary of our synagogue when Judaism tells us that 120 years should mark ...

Simchat Torah Firsts

This past Simchat Torah I had the fortune of dividing my time between two minyanim: the Mount Sinai Jewish Center in Washington ...

Seekers and Unaffiliated: An Opportunity

I recently met a woman who I really liked. We have a lot in common, being  professionally accomplished Jewish women ...

Taking It To The Streets

Sukkot was never a big deal for me when growing up. Coming so soon after the pomp and circumstance of ...

Do We Go to High Holiday Services for the Comfort of the Boredom?

At the conclusion of Yom Kippur services, the rabbi was standing at the door shaking hands as the congregation departed. ...