Blog

Would it surprise you to learn that an estimated 4 billion people utilize a lunar calendar
in some capacity? In addition to 15 million Jews, there are also 2 billion Asians and 1.9
Muslims. That is approximately half of the Earth’s population. What is it about the lunar
calendar that continues to be so appealing? Is it Tevye’s answer, “Because it’s a
tradition!”, or might there be more?...Read more...

Many connect the celebration of Chanukah with the exchanging of gifts. It might surprise you to learn that gift-giving became a later addition to Chanukah, most likely starting in the United States, in imitation of Christmas. The proximity of both holidays, if not occurring on the same day as this year, made it inevitable that over time, customs from one crept into the other. That is not necessarily a bad thing, for...Read more...

Sitting at the Thanksgiving meal, my heart was filled with gratitude.  That’s the not-so-secret gravy of Thanksgiving that transcends any religion yet flows through all Americans. The ability to gather with family and friends over a shared meal is something that all of us can do, and lends itself to the narrative of America as a melting pot. It is rather likely that many have certain traditions associated...Read more...

There is an adage that says that time heals all wounds. I’m not convinced. It might not be the entire scab, but commemorating it is enough to make you re-live the pain. It doesn’t go away. You learn to live with it, integrate it into your being, and either develop skills to cope or hone the ones that you already possess in your toolbox.

Certainly, one of the challenges I...Read more...

There are those who are elated with the results of the election and those who are not. No matter your affinity, there is something that did not change: what God expects of us. Being Jewish starts from the first commandment, that we acknowledge and accept that there is one God, the same God who took our ancestors out of Egypt. At Mt. Sinai, they uttered the immortal words Naaseh V’nishmah,...Read more...