Living Jewishly is intense (in the best sense of the word).  The Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, the Ten Days of Repentance, are upon us. The penultimate parsha, Ha’azinu could not be more poignant. Almost the entire parsha consists of Deuteronomy chapter...

A businessman boarded a plane to find, sitting next to him, an elegant woman wearing the largest, most stunning diamond ring he had ever seen. He asked her about it. "This is the Bexfield diamond," she said. "It is beautiful, but there is a terrible...

Ki Teitzei means when you leave. When we leave our expectations over the messes great and little, some we have made, some made for us. When we cease to compare the what-it-is to the what-we-wanted or the-way-it-was-supposed-to-be. When we leave behind...

(JTA) — As an art director at the United States Postal Service, Antonio Alcalá has designed stamps honoring Woodstock, the Emancipation Proclamation and Ezra Jack Keats’ children’s book classic “A Snowy Day.” But this year’s USPS Hanukkah...

As we approach the High Holy Days, the Hebrew month of Elul, which began last night, offers us a chance to hit the proverbial "pause" button, take a breath, and reset. Traditionally, Elul practices for High Holy Days focus on deep introspection, encouraging...

In Jewish tradition, naming newborns after loved ones who have passed away is a profound way to honor and keep their legacy alive. Have you ever looked at a child and seen not only the soul in front of you but someone you loved and lost? When my mother...

Sadly, this year I attended the funeral of the beloved husband of a former colleague. I’ve been to many funerals in the past, but none like this one. The words spoken by this man’s family and friends painted a picture...

“Justice, justice shall you pursue” is the double injunction found in Deuteronomy 16:20 and is the centerpiece of this section of the Torah we call Shoftim (Judges). The entire parasha is Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 and begins by showing us, in...

We Jews have been called lots of things. Some of the less offensive appellations are “stubborn” and “obstinate.” Yes, we can be stubborn, obstinate or davka. Call it what you like. But, curiously, not all the rabbis see stubbornness as a fault. In...

Author Elie Wiesel tells the story of the one righteous man of Sodom, who walked the streets protesting the injustices of his city. People made fun of him, derided him. Finally, a young person asked:  “Why do you continue your protest against evil;...

Ekev also signifies “heel.” Every generation is a heel generation, in the sense that everything previous has contributed to everything we do, all previous actsrest on the heel of the present, and so every act, every word, every gesture, every mitzvah,...

Every parent has at one time or another instructed his/her child to “use your words” when asking for something instead of using pointing, grunting, crying, yelling or such nonverbal behavior.  Human beings are verbal creatures, and if children are...