By Miriam Schachter, LCSW for The Times of Israel
On March 12th, my husband and I left New York, and drove to our own personal slice of Gan Eden, on White Oak Pond, in Holderness, New Hampshire. We are deeply attached to this part of the world, as we’ve been spending summers here for more than 40 years. We… Read the rest
By Rabbi Yonah Berman for eJewish Philanthropy
I recently spearheaded an online adult education program called Changemakers. This program brought together 30 Orthodox synagogues across North America to share in a four-part Zoom lecture series under the auspices of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School, where I am the Director of Alumni Engagement and Chair of Professional Rabbinics.… Read the rest
By Haggai Resnikoff for The Jewish Forward
Why have Orthodox Jews been so slow to commit to the struggle against climate change? The Pope and the Islamic Society of North America have spoken up about it. In January, Renewal Rabbi Arthur Waskow’s Shalom Center issued a statement with more than 500 rabbinic signees, and this spring, Reform Rabbi Jennie Rosenn launched Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, a new Jewish non-profit devoted solely to mobilizing the American Jewish community to confront the climate crisis.… Read the rest
By Rabbi Dov Linzer for The Jewish Forward
The realities of quarantine and sheltering-in-place during these last few months have created challenges for the halakhically-observant community. Halakhic decisors have issued their rulings, responding appropriately and sympathetically to these unprecedented realities.
What has largely been absent, however, is a serious engagement with the person asking the question; sympathetic psak is not the same as collaborative or empowering psak.… Read the rest
By Rabbi Dov Linzer for The Jewish Forward
After two months of heavy restrictions on New Yorkers’ comings and goings, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that religious gatherings of up to ten people will now be permitted. My ears, like those of many religious Jews, perked up at the number ten.… Read the rest
In collaboration with Yeshivat Maharat and the International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF), YCT has created a collection of Passover 2020 readings with an emphasis on the coronavirus and its impact on the holiday this year. Access the readings here. … Read the rest
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah’s International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF) shared its guide for Passover 5780. The comprehensive guide includes: how to clean and kasher prior to Pesach; a shopping guide; instructions for leading a Seder; and information about loneliness and mental health. To access the guide in PDF format, click here.… Read the rest
By Rabbi Avram Mlotek for Tablet Magazine
His door was unlocked. Two weeks prior, a man took advantage of this basic act of radical kindness when Grafton Thomas burst through Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg’s home in Monsey, N.Y., slashing at people with an 18-inch machete, leaving one man in critical condition.… Read the rest
Published recently in ejewishphilanthropy.com
By Rabbi Andy Kastner, ’10
At a recent committee meeting, the topic of pregnancy came up. It was shared that a community member was expecting another child. A few men in the room were the first (and only) to comment on this news.… Read the rest
Rabbi Ari Weiss honored for Cornell Hillel leadership
By Joe Wilensky
Rabbi Ari Weiss, executive director of Cornell Hillel, is one of 16 honorees recognized by Hillel International, the largest worldwide Jewish campus organization.
Weiss, who has led Cornell Hillel since July 2016, received the Richard M.… Read the rest