May 3, 2024 – כ״ה נִיסָן תשפ”ד Soon, the Spring semester will be over on most campuses, students will go home, and the wave of protests will largely disperse. We can dismiss the protesters as fringe groups or extremists, but that would be a mistake. That’s because the protesters have succeeded in moving the […]
Last Tuesday, I had the honor to be in conversation with Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who has been held hostage by Hamas since he was kidnapped on October 7. Like many of the hostages, there had been no signs of life from Hersh in over 200 days, and at the time of […]
April 19, 2024 – י״א נִיסָן תשפ”ד At its essence, Judaism is about belonging. As Jews, our identity is grounded in a profound and powerful sense of being intimately a part of the same family, community, and people. It is about sharing a storyline and a tradition. Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan taught that Belonging can lead […]
April 12, 2024 -תשפ”ד ד׳ נִיסָד This year, when we gather with family or friends, or as a community, or congregation, it will be different. The world has changed since that dark and horrific Shabbat of Simchat Torah 5784 when the unthinkable became reality. It will be different because as we sit down to […]
By Rabbi Dan Medwin (he/him) Co-Director, URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy I am swimming in conflicting emotions and thoughts after my short, but intense, trip to Israel through the Foundation for Jewish Camp. The heartbreaking and gut-wrenching stories I heard while there are now imprinted on my soul and will forever remain with me. […]
April 5, 2024 – כ״ו אַדָר ב׳ תשפ”ד וַיִּקְח֣וּ בְנֵֽי־אַ֠הֲרֹ֠ן נָדָ֨ב וַאֲבִיה֜וּא אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ בָהֵן֙ אֵ֔שׁ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלֶ֖יהָ קְטֹ֑רֶת וַיַּקְרִ֜יבוּ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אֵ֣שׁ זָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א צִוָּ֖ה אֹתָֽם׃ וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ (ויקרא י:א-ב) “Now Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu each took his fire pan, put fire in […]
March 29, 2024 – י״ט אַדָר ב׳ תשפ”ד Emotions are high and are often guiding our actions at this fraught time. As Professor Derek Penslar articulates, emotion lies at the heart of all national movements, and Zionism is no exception. “For those who identify as Zionists, the word connotes liberation and redemption, uniqueness and vulnerability. […]
March 21, 2024 – י״ב אַדָר ב׳ Despite the rabbinic mandate to celebrate Purim with frivolity and silliness, this year it will be difficult to do so. Nearing the six-month mark of this war, Israelis are still reeling from the Hamas massacre, praying every day for the return of the remaining hostages. The lesson of […]
March 15, 2024 – ה׳ אַדָר ב׳ תשפ”ד What Do You Mean By That? Two imagined, yet realistic, dialogues between two Diaspora Jews: “Did you say ‘ceasefire’”? “No, I just said ‘End the war, stop the fighting, bring the hostages home, and provide significant humanitarian aid to the millions of Palestinians in dire straits.’” “Oh, […]
Since the October 7th massacre and the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, Jewish teens in North America have been experiencing many serious challenges. Jewish teens with diverse political identities have been criticized by their peers and communities for expressing their beliefs around Israel and the war. Many teens and their loved ones have been targeted […]
