By Joshua Flanders
Read the original story in the Jewish Daily Forward here.
In Chicago’s large Orthodox Jewish community, Rabbi Ari Hart stands out.
As a leader at Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob Synagogue in Skokie, Illinois, Hart focuses on the roles of women within their community, inclusion of LGBTQ individuals, and other accessibility issues as simple as welcoming different styles of worship.… Read the rest
Where in France did you grow up?
I grew up in Strasbourg. It’s in France, near Germany.
What was the Jewish environment like there?
I grew up in an Orthodox environment, so I’ve been learning Jewish texts in a Jewish environment since I was born.… Read the rest
Dear Friends,
For the last several days, we have watched in pain the escalating violence in Israel and the meaningless loss of life. The toll of individuals killed and injured rises every day. As sirens wail and babies scream for their mothers, Israel’s citizens are scrambling into bomb shelters and watching rockets surge towards their homes.… Read the rest
By Rabbi Uri Topolosky (’05), for Washington Jewish Week
For two years in a row, our congregation has concluded Yom Kippur under the stars — this past year due to COVID, and the year before after a 3-year-old boy pulled the fire alarm with 20 minutes left in Neilah.… Read the rest
By Rabbi Haggai Resnikoff for The Jewish Forward
Amid today’s climate catastrophe, Tu B’Shvat offers us a chance to consider our role as environmental caretakers. This past year, news of droughts and deluges, fires and floods, has woven itself across our news feeds in an unending parade of devastation that can only be described as biblical in proportion.… Read the rest
Interview with Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff (’18)
Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff (’18) is a professional genealogist and Global Connections Education Associate at the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.
How did you first become interested in genealogy?
I was about 15 years old when I first became interested in genealogy.… Read the rest
Interview with Rabbi Mike Schultz (’08) by Nathan Jeffay in The Times of Israel
As Israel’s third wave COVID cases surge, Rabbi Mike Schultz dons his hazmat suit, and prepares to talk about Allah.
Israel’s Arab citizens have been disproportionately hit by the coronavirus pandemic, which means that 12 years after graduating from a New York rabbinical school, Schultz is spending his days talking with a lot of patients who are deeply probing their Islamic faith.… Read the rest
By Rabbi Dr. Jon Kelsen for eJewish Philanthropy
I thank you, eternally living King! For You have returned within me my soul, with compassion; Your faithfulness is great!
The prayer Modah [Modeh] Ani was authored by 16th century Safed kabbalist, R.… Read the rest
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