Sukkot and the Spirituality of Sustainability
Ten years ago, Ron Schulhof and Michelle Sterling, two congregants who were serving as volunteers on our village's sustainability board, approached me with an intriguing proposal: make WRT the first local house of worship to go zero-waste.
Repent, Repair, Renew
Perhaps the act of gluing is a metaphor for tikkun olam, the act of repairing the world, which is central to our beliefs as Reform Jews. There are so many issues to ponder.
B’reshit Torah Haikus
These are Torah portion haikus.
Five Lesser-Known Foods You Need to Try in Israel
The following foods are part of the mosaic created through this ingathering, and can therefore be considered "Israeli," even though they may have origins that predate the modern State of Israel.
Dawn: An Elul Poem
As we prepare for the High Holy Days, we engage in cheshbon hanefesh, an accounting of the soul. During the month of Elul, we look inward and reflect. This poem speaks to the possibilities of healing ourselves and our world.
613 Mitzvot, 613 Seeds: A Look at the Pomegranate’s History, Symbolism, and Uses
Why is the pomegranate such a prominent symbol of Rosh HaShanah and what are some other ways to use it?
Frank Stella: "Had Gadya" and Jewish Themes
One might not immediately associate Frank Stella (b. 1936), the American painter, sculptor, and printmaker noted for his work in the areas of minimalism and post-painterly abstraction, with a lyrical poem that concludes the traditional Passover meal.
Barbie and The Bomb: The Jewish Roots of This Summer's Blockbusters
Much has been made of this summer’s blockbuster movie phenomena, Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” which were released on the same weekend. The films have become a strange double feature, both bound to the same cultural moment. While they seem to have little in common, both films depict maverick Jewish thinkers whose ideals created seismic shifts in the world.
Home Again: Five Tips to Welcome Your Camper Home
Camp is generally a great experience for kids. They deepen their Jewish identities, broaden their communities, and learn new life skills. However, these benefits can also mean your camper needs some time to process their experience on their own while readjusting to life at home.
Intentional Fertility: LGBTQ+ Family Building
When June and her partner conceived their two children through intrauterine insemination, they considered themselves privileged, but not infertile. June was well-connected and her female partner was a doctor, so they had access to resources.