Chanukah
The Dangers of Purity
The holiday of Hanukkah should be a fraught one for American Jews. Most of us know it as a gift-giving holiday, ...
A Rabbi’s Christmas Message
With the flurry of discussion about how Jewish and interfaith families are handling the confluence of Hanukkah and Christmas this ...
Don’t Let the Light Go Out!
Last night our congregation’s chant meditation group met to contemplate light as we arrived at the cusp of the darkest ...
Ode to the Frozen Mass-Produced Latke
When I was a kid, the crème de la crème of latkes were the frozen ones. And I don’t mean ...
How to Add Some Competitive Excitement to Your Hanukkah Party
I’ve been joking this year that with Hanukkah starting on Christmas Eve, our holiday doesn’t have a chance to compete ...
From Israel to America: Sephardi Inspiration for Hanukkah
Multicultural Hanukkah inspiration
Hanukkah Gift Giving Guide for the Undecided Giver
It’s that time of year again. In the weeks before Hanukkah, my extra mental energy always goes to gifts.I have ...
Taking Sides on Hanukkah
I often wonder what group I would have belonged to when people were being asked to stand up and be ...
How to Make A Bike-Powered Menorah in Mississippi (and Everywhere)
Spending Hanukkah in the Deep South is far from my “most remote” holiday experience. In December of 2012, I was ...
Where Are You Lighting Your Lights?
After spending two years as ISJL Education Fellows serving the South, fellowship alumni often leave for places near and far ...