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As a Jewish professional, it breaks my heart when our organizations cannot make it possible to include everyone who desires to be part of our communities. As stewards of Jewish values within our [...]

The factory town of Gary, Indiana became the model for schools in what was called the “Gary Plan” at the beginning of the 20th century. Its structures are familiar to anyone who has spent time in [...]

In the second of this week’s two Torah portions, Ma’asey, the Jewish people stand on the banks of the Jordan River poised to enter the Land of Israel. They are commanded to make war with the [...]

There is no question that Judaism is a religion that believes, first and foremost, in action and behavior that eventually leads to faith in something greater than ourselves – an [...]

One sunny November Shabbat morning Jonathan became a Bar Mitzvah. Having been the Education Director at this synagogue for more than a year, I couldn’t take credit for Jon’s accomplishments. At [...]

It seems fitting that Parashat Acharei Mot, which we read this week, is also read in the synagogue on Yom Kippur.  Beyond the obvious connection that the portion describes the rituals that took [...]

Perhaps the most important test of a real community is how it handles differences, particularly the ones that are difficult to understand and may feel threatening. This week’s Torah portion [...]

No Torah portion stresses the potential of each human being’s contribution to the community more than Vayekhel. Filled with details of the desert Tabernacle’s trimmings, embellishments, and [...]

Within any synagogue community it is common to find many sub-communities. Throughout the year you are likely to find the entire community gathered together for any number of reasons – [...]

Could it be that Joseph was a young man who was misunderstood because of some sort of disability that challenged him? We hear stories all too often of those with disabilities who perplex their [...]