Purim Again
Unique to the Jewish calendar, the festival of Purim is actually observed on different days depending on location. The majority of the Jewish people celebrate Purim on the 14th of Adar…
Who Was Mordechai?
There are some people in this world who always seem to be right in the thick of the action. As described in the Book of Esther, this was Mordechai. It is Mordechai’s cousin who is chosen…
The Green Mountain State
Aside from Senator Bernie Sanders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield – aka “Ben & Jerry’s” – people normally do not associate the Green Mountain State with Jews. Although some scholars date…
Midwest Trailblazers
Study the history of Jews who were trailblazers and who made their mark in the Midwest during the 19th century.
Hail The Accuser
In the era of social media, it is almost an everyday occurrence to be asked to sign a petition or to “like” a cause. When Emile Zola, the celebrated French novelist, published J’Accuse on…
Praise on Shabbat
Recognize the opportunity to praise God through the recitation of the most pleasant prayer, Anim Zemirot, the Shir Hakavod for Shabbat. Learn about the most pleasant of relationships,…
Painting Our People
Born on December 26, 1902, in Rahachow, Belarus (in the Pale of Settlement), Anatoli Lvovich Kaplan was a Jewish painter who celebrated his Jewish heritage and the Jewish world in his…
Painful Memories
In order to avoid traumatic reactions, consider the feelings of those around you when recalling difficult times or painful experiences, especially if you know that some will be impacted…
Never Again
Recent acts of anti-Semitism and tragic events remind us of the words found in the Passover Hagaddah: "In each generation there are those who rise to destroy Jews." It behooves the Jewish…
Hail the Holy Pomegranate
The pomegranate is a funny sort of fruit. Rather than eating the flesh and throwing away the seed, as one does when eating an apple or orange, pomegranate seeds are eaten and the flesh…