Jewish Blogs

Conservative Rabbi on Jeopardy

Jews have a reputation for answering a question with another question. Perhaps this suits Jewish contestants well on the television game show “Jeopardy!”.Joyce Newmark, a rabbi in Teaneck, N.J., will be a contestant on tonight’s episode of “Jeopardy!”. It was recorded on February 2, but Newmark is not allowed to comment publicly on the results until after it is broadcast. ...

Conservative movement claims that they started the Baal Teshuva movement

Readers found more information by searching for:baal teshuva movement (2)conservative baalei teshuvah (2)ba\al teshuva movement (1)North American Teshuva Movement (1)You might also like:Is Yom Kippur Teshuva Harder Than Becoming a Baal Teshuva?I hereby launch the Woman’s Voice movementOff the Derech Movement is Good for the JewsLiving the Legacy: a new take on Jews and the Civil Rights MovementBRS decides to take on FrumSatire and ...

Conservative Jewish College Students Get Short Shrift

At some point in 1996, I sat down to begin writing a draft of my application essays for rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary. One of the questions asked what the focus of my future rabbinate would be and it didn’t take long to formulate an answer that included paying more attention to Jewish college students.As an active student ...

Congregation Beit Kodesh

It’s not uncommon for a rabbi to write a eulogy for a human being, but writing a eulogy for a synagogue is fortunately not very common. Nevertheless, I’d like to express my sincere sadness that a local Conservative congregation is closing its doors today.Yesterday marked the final Shabbat for Congregation Beit Kodesh, a small Conservative synagogue in Livonia, Michigan that ...

Congratulations, Mr. Mayor

Mucho mazel to Rahm Emanuel on his victory in Chicago!In spite of an attempt to render his run ineligible by some who questioned his ChiTown residency (to whom I’m sure he would have flipped his right middle finger, if he had one), the former Official Presidential Foulmouth soared into office with 55% of the vote against five opponents.“Rahmbo” is already ...

Condolences to Justice Ginsburg

All eyes were on Elena Kagan today, as the nice Jewish girl from New York took the stand for day 2 of her confirmation hearings. And you may have heard the chatter about her cheeky Jew-y comment. When asked by Senator Lindsey Graham where she was on Christmas Day, when the infamous underwear bomber was attempting to attack, she said, ...

Complex Happiness

We are living in a moment of Jewish historic significance, one which embodies the blessing: “Thank you God for helping us arrive at this day.” This Simchat Torah, we express joy not only as we complete the reading of the Torah, but as we come to the end of a five year struggle to achieve the freedom of one Israeli ...

Community Kiddush #9

There is a disagreement between the Gra and the Gaonim regarding what constitutes Kiddush b’makom seudah (the obligation to eat a meal after Kiddush). The Gaonim rule that wine or any Mezonot food is enough, while the Gaon maintains that it must be a bread meal. The custom is to be stringent at the Friday night Kiddush, which is a Torah commandment, and lenient during the day Kiddush, which ...

Comedy Central: WTF?

Look, Comedy Central – it’s fine when Jon Stewart makes occasional, self-deprecating Jewish references on your network because he’s one of us. But this “game” on the CC web site called “I.S.R.A.E.L. Attack!” is TOTAL ANTI-SEMITIC CRAP. Featuring someone called “Jew Producer” who fails to destroy another character and thus sends in the “Intelligent Smart Robot Animation Eraser Lady” (I.S.R.A.E.L.) ...

Colbert Wants To Be A Jew

Yesterday, was Ash Wednesday, which officially brought in Lent. Not sure how familiar all of you are with Lent. Personally, I know very little. I do know however, that many people give up certain things for Lent–like alcohol, snacks, television, etc. It’s kind of like the Omer.Last night on the Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert, a well known Catholic, in a pretty ...

Clowning Around: A Simple & Fun Paper Clown Project For Kids!

Colorful paper clown faces make great decorations for Purim or even your next circus themed party! My kids loved this project so much that it kept them busy for several evenings on the dining room table. I’d love to show you better photos, but with the rainy weather this week, we’ll have to settle for a few indoor shots.We made ...

Closeted orthodox guy attends reform minyan

A few years ago my friends took me to my first Reform service, in fact it was the first non-Orthodox davening of any type that I had attended and I felt pretty awkward going. Growing up Orthodox you hear some pretty nasty rhetoric about anyone who isn’t Orthodox and so I figured they must think the same way about us.I ...