The Jewish Light’s Jan. 25 article on Missouri’s new abortion statute inadvertently excludes the position of normative Jewish law or halacha that has been practiced by Jews for thousands of years. Missouri’s abortion statute is fully consistent...

(JNS) Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich does not appear to be ready for prime time. Last week, he “clarified” public remarks saying that the Arab village of Huwara—site of the terrorist slaying of two young Israeli men as well as a host...

(JTA) — After a Palestinian gunman shot and killed two Israeli brothers in the West Bank, Jewish settlers rioted in the nearby Palestinian town of Huwara, burning cars and buildings. A Palestinian was killed and dozens were injured. Israeli Prime...

Spring is renewal, rebirth, a reboot. It offers a change in scenery and a lift to our spirits. The idea that we can look forward to seeing multi-colored flowers bloom in public spaces, at favorite nurseries and in our own yards, and watch the bright kelly...

Hi there, I’m Amy’s husband, Jeff. You know me from Amy’s columns, especially the ones where she includes crazy pictures of me.  In her last column, Amy told a story of something funny I did, so she handed over the reins of this column for me...

The two of us grew up in an era where there was a division of labor in our homes. Usually, the man/husband/dad did the messy inside and outside stuff—dishes, garbage, fixing the toilet and changing light bulbs, yardwork and maybe grilled—and cleaned...

What would you do if your child’s life was threatened?  If your child required specific healthcare in order to thrive, to survive? For most parents, the question is absurd.   Of course, we would go to the end of the earth, exhaust our capabilities...

I recently turned 77 years of age—an occasion for reflecting about what I have witnessed over my considerable lifetime. Among the things witnessed is a sense that Americans have become increasingly soft. Why do I say this? I was born in 1945, as “the...

(JTA) — Conservative-Masorti Judaism strives to accommodate the rich diversity of the Jewish world. A crucial part of this mission is ensuring that Jews of color feel welcome in our communities and heeding the call for racial justice. The voices of...

Every day, we make dozens of decisions. Some are minor like what to cook for dinner and whether to take a walk after a morning working at our computer. Or maybe we should head out in the afternoon when our work is done. Some are clear cut. Should I...

It happens to most children. They decide they want a pet of their very own, perhaps a hamster, gerbil, cat, dog, bird, or goldfish.  As parents, we know that their promises to love it, be responsible for it, train it, feed it, and clean up after...

You darling readers have given me some wonderful feedback on this column, and I appreciate it. I especially love when you think I’m funny. Actually, I think my friends are way funnier than me. So I thought I’d share a couple of their stories to prove...