Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, a Swiss American psychiatrist, told of a terminally ill woman who was in the hospital and begged the doctors to help her survive long enough to attend her son’s wedding. If she could just get to the wedding, she said, she could...

“A person is given three names: one that their parents call them, one their fellows call them, and one that they acquire with their deeds.” (Midrash Tanhuma, Va-yakhel) The naming process is unique to each individual and culture, yet names...

Would you hire Bilaam to work at your Jewish organization? Let’s check out his resume.  Bilaam’s previous job titles include dream interpreter, magician, and most recently, prophet via ruach hakodesh, the holy spirit.  His most recent employer...

In the Tanakh, one can often tell quite a bit about who people are just by the meaning of their names. Eve comes from the word life, Abraham means father of multitudes, David is beloved. So when you learn that Korach, the titular character in this week’s...

Despite the miraculous journey on which the people had been traveling, when faced with deciding on whether to continue going forward, the people were afraid. They looked back on the halcyon days when a strong authority figure determined the...

It was Shabbat Naso, the longest parashah in the Torah, read in proximity to Shavuot, the great wedding celebrating the enduring wisdom given to us on a mountain top. We had prepared. Was it a complete gift, this wisdom, or did we turn ourselves...

This story originally appeared on Kveller  Shavuot is rather multifaceted; its date, significance, traditions, and evolution are filled with holiness — and many unknowns. Ask three Jewish educators why it’s customary to enjoy dairy delicacies on...

For the first time, four Reform congregations in St. Louis are collaborating for a unique Shavuot celebration. "Connections, Commandments and Cheesecake" is a joint effort by Congregation Shaare Emeth, Congregation Temple Israel, Temple Emanuel and...

Though it has been many decades since I was an incoming freshman in college, I remember well many of the experiences of that year as well as the three others that followed. One was the experience of rushing a fraternity and then participating on the...

The Jewish festival of Passover recalls the biblical story of the Israelites enslaved by Egypt and their miraculous escape. During a ritual feast known as a Seder, families celebrate this ancient story of deliverance, with each new generation reminded...

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...