Mitzvah With A Shovel
The Jewish customs surrounding death, burial and mourning are intended to provide both respect for the departed and comfort for the mourners. One such custom that may seem startling or…
Offer a Hand
When attending a burial where only a few family members are present, offering to help shovel dirt into the grave is considered a great act of kindness.
Thoughts for the Heart
In honor of American Heart Month, and because caring for your own health is part of two Torah mitzvot of “V’nish’martem me’od l’naf’sho’tay’chem” and “hatzalat n’fashoat” (guarding and…
Eat Your Vegetables
Enjoy a hearty salad or vegetable soup packed with vegetables to improve your health.
B’shalach 5785-2025
“The Bones of Joseph” (updated and revised from B’shalach 5766-2006) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat B’shalach, opens with millions of Israelites, many of them…
A Jewish Income Tax
On February 3, 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived,…
Tax Rationalization
As a means of accepting the need to pay income tax, recognize that taxes are used in part to pay for necessary vital services and provide for civic and communal needs both nationally and…
What Are Tefillin?
The common translation of tefillin is “phylacteries,” which is a Greek word meaning amulet. “And you shall bind them [the words that I command you today] for a sign upon your arm, and…
Rabbinic Help
If you find or inherit a pair of tefillin, reach out to a local rabbi to make sure they are kosher and learn the proper way to put them on. As we know, tefillin is worn both on the arm…
Baba Sali
Although it is not uncommon for Jewish sages to be known by a pseudonym, such names are most often either abbreviations of their full names (e.g. RaMBaM, an acronym for Rabbi Moses ben…
Seek Guidance
Build a relationship with rabbinic leaders and seek spiritual guidance from them.
This From Kansas
The majority of the territory of what is now the state of Kansas was acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The Great Plains was the home of seven Native American tribes. The…
Before You Travel
To fully appreciate the development of the Jewish community and its many institutions in a particular place, do your research before you travel to enhance your appreciation for the…
Jonas Phillips
A few weeks after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the British blockade intercepted a communication from Jonas Phillips to a relative on the Dutch Island of St. Estatius.…
Be Thankful
As Americans, we should appreciate that we live in a malchut shel chesed, a country whose underpinnings are rooted in kindness, that has allowed for the free exercise of Jewish religious…
Bo 5785-2025
“Opening their Hearts, so they can Hear” (updated and revised from Bo 5765-2005) In this coming week’s parasha, parashat Bo, the ten plagues come to a dramatic conclusion with the final…
International Holocaust Memorial Day
Speak of the Holocaust and the first word that many think of is Auschwitz. It was, and is, the most infamous of the concentration camps established by the Nazis. In fact, Auschwitz was…
Record Their Stories
If there are Holocaust survivors in your family or in your community, make sure to speak with them and record their stories.
Couldn’t Hear The Hope
“Don’t worry, it will get easier. Don’t worry, I’m sure things will get better.” As heartening as these words may seem, most people who experience a difficult time of their life often…
Listen Well
Be a good listener by not assuming you know someone else's pain. It is especially important to join together and empathize with our brothers and sisters who are in pain. Since October 7,…
Before Michigan
The foundations of Michigan’s Jewish community were laid by the German Jews who came to America in the 1840s and spread out across the continent. Jewish history in Michigan, which became…
Midwest Trailblazers
Study the history of Jews who were trailblazers and who made their mark in the Midwest during the 19th century.
Celebrating with a Parade
Name a Jewish celebration, that is not a wedding, but includes a chuppah, music and dancing. The answer is a Hachnassat Sefer Torah, literally “Welcoming the Torah Scroll,” the ceremony…
Join the Celebration
If you hear of a Hachnassat Sefer Torah (welcoming of a Torah) in your area, clear your calendar and try to attend.
Australian Pride
Among the Australian Jewish community, Sir Isaac Isaacs (1855-1948) was a man who was often far more admired than he was liked. In his retirement, after a long and illustrious political…
A Jewish Leader of Note
There is much to learn from studying the lives of Jewish leaders around the world who led, and positively impacted, their communities.
Va’eira 5785-2025
“Teaching a New Reality About Divine Power Through the Ten Plagues” (updated and revised from Va’eira 5765-2004)…
Inauguration Oil
Elected U.S. presidents are inaugurated on January 20th. But, it wasn’t always that way. The Congress of the Confederation set March 4, 1789, as the date for “commencing proceedings” of…
Be a Jewish Leader
You too can help lead the Jewish people by assuming a volunteer position in your synagogue or a local Jewish organization.
Insights into the Burning Bush
The release several years ago of the motion picture Exodus: Gods and Kings is one in a long line of dramatic recreations of Biblical narratives. Such dramas have been attempted long…