Pesach feels different this year. Likely, we are all experiencing a mix of emotions; sad, angry, scared, frustrated, and stuck in place, like it has forever been Oct. 7. We’re supposed to celebrate with joy this festival known, as Zman Cherutaynu, season...

When I was 9 years old and attending a Conservative Jewish day school, I witnessed the boys that were required to wear kippot, or yarmulkes, every day while there was no such obligation for the girls attending the school.  As a young girl waiting in...

“Rabbi, before my father died, he expressed a desire to be cremated. Is this permissible in Judaism?” Such questions often arise as families, amid fresh grief, are forced to make plans for the funeral of a beloved family member. Like so many questions...

Every culture has its tales of heroes, leaders and exemplars whose lives and stories serve as models for our own. Whether we look at the ancient stories of Achilles or the modern chronicles of Superman, the narratives of these characters are presented...

My family has a tradition of driving great distances. It is not unusual for us to drive to Maine or to Colorado. In the armrest of the car is a small open area where we keep stones of various shapes and sizes, collected from places we have traveled or...

Bedouins savor it thick and rich out of small ornate cups. Some like it black, while others must have cream and sugar. The adventurous will try one of the many flavored coffees available, while the purist would not hear of it. No matter how you enjoy...