Tradition

Reforming the Chant

Some traditions at play at Main Line synagogue

By:

With a tallit draped over his shoulders and a guitar resting on his lap, Rabbi Ethan Franzel sat, eyes closed and completely still, in the dimly lit chapel at Main Line Reform Temple-Beth Elohim in Wynnewood. At 6:15 a.m. on Tuesday morning, darkness still enveloped the sky; the lights in the rest of the building hadn't even been turned on...

Tradition

Here Comes the Sun: A 28-Year Ritual Dawns Once Again

By:

Aaron Passman, JE Feature

On April 8, 1981, the last time that Jews observed a rare Jewish ritual revolving around the sun, the Phillies were coming off a World Series championship, and a new president was set to steer the nation out of an economic crisis. Sound familiar? Now, nearly three decades later, Jews are preparing once again to mark Birkat Hachammah, or the...

Tradition

Tempted to Dive Right In?

For the Orthodox, it's more complex than it sounds

By:

Bryan Schwartzman

Still a bit groggy from her nap, 5-year-old Shulamit Vered Levintov was all dressed for her lesson, sporting a bathing cap, swimsuit and flotation device; the only problem was she seemed to have no interest in getting into the pool. She'd taken a few steps down the pool ladder, but remained half in and half out for an agonizingly long...

Local

Some Kosher Meat at a Minimum, Following Fallout From Iowa Plant

By:

Michelle Mostovy-Eisenberg

Maryanne Crager is facing a bit of a problem. The stores she represents as public-affairs manager for Genuardi's supermarkets are known for their sizable kosher departments, but at the Wynnewood and Rockledge locations right now, customers may be disappointed. At the moment, Crager reported, Genuardi's has a "limited supply" of kosher deli meat. The reason is that the market's kosher-meat...

Local

'Where Do We Go From Here?'

Orthodox feminists gather to analyze ups and downs

By:

Rachel Silverman

New York — The participants at the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance's international conference hardly looked like rebels. Some cradled babies; others wore long skirts or various types of head coverings. Many davened during breaks. Still, they came with a cause. In ways large and small, these individuals are attempting to rethink -- even reshape -- certain aspects of Orthodox Judaism...