Temple Israel students who began college this year have a special nickname for themselves. It doesn’t have to do with COVID-19 or with their time in confirmation class or shared experiences during their b’nai mitzvah year. They call themselves “Miss...

For Jews, grappling with the physical and spiritual presence of Israel is not optional. Why is this relationship crucial? Israel is part of an unbreakable, interdependent triad that includes God and Torah. All Jews are the Children of Israel. We are...

Thank you. I’m thankful for you reading my essays month after month. What a coincidence that here I am, publicly thankful, and it happens to be Thanksgiving. We can each make a list, from the serious to the silly, as a reminder of positivity during...

During the Jewish holidays in September and October, we often reflect on making a better version of ourselves. Well after reflecting for these months and more, here is my takeaway: Growing up, my family was always an embarrassment to me. And going forward,...

I drafted this commentary the day after the presidential election, before we knew the final outcome. I felt my comments were relevant regardless of the winner.  The 2020 election has been called the most important in American history, given the huge...

Death’s a funny thing. It can focus your mind, but it also can set your head spinning. It can even do both at the same time, as did to me over the weekend.After several days of following the grim and grimmer news about our surging coronavirus pandemic,...

My first opportunity to meet Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who passed away on Nov. 7, began in 2013. As a member of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency, I had the privilege of introducing a dialogue between Rabbi Sacks and the Israeli historian Fania...

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, lost his third battle with cancer last Shabbat, at the age of 72. He was called a ‘towering intellect’ by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and admirers in Jewish communities throughout...

JERUSALEM (JTA) — American presidents often vie for the designation as the best friend Israel ever had in the White House. That competition sometimes starts early. Joe Biden first brandished his pro-Israel credentials to me at a Christmas party in...

I’ll never forget the day I converted to Judaism — after all, it was one of the best days of my life!After years of studying, learning and teaching, I finally achieved the goal I’d had from the age of 16. But while it was an amazing day, it was...

Twenty-five years after Yitzhak Rabin’s murder and still, the debate about his legacy heats up every year as the date of his memorial ceremony approaches. A few object to the statement that the Oslo process failed because the Palestinian national...