Judaism

Local

Death as a Constant Part of Life

Torah

Is Golan Heights Part of Holy Land?

Arts

Hidden City Festival Reveals Revitalization of 'Little Shul'

Local

Does Birthright Stifle Teen Travel?

By:

Bryan Schwartzman

Palestinian violence and financial meltdowns aside, travel program leaders unanimously point to one cause for a dramatic drop in teenage visitors to the Jewish state over the past decade: Taglit-Birthright Israel.

Torah

Blessing the People With Love and Joy

NASO, Numbers 4:21-7:89

By:

Rabbi Shmuel Jablon

Rabbi Shmuel Jablon examines the verses that serve as the source of the mitzvah for Kohanim to bless the Jewish people every day.

Parenting

The Real Jewish 'Housewives'  of South Jersey

By:

Melissa Jacobs

Two modern moms discuss how they juggle family and professional roles in the Jewish community.

Shavuot

Rethinking the Ruth-Naomi Relationship

By:

Deborah Rosenbloom, JTA

Writer Deborah Rosenbloom always thought of Ruth, the heroine of Shavuot, as a woman who made good choices, was strong and fulfilled. But lately she's been rethinking this and focusing on the strange dynamics of what appears to be an unhealthy, possibly abusive, relationship between Ruth and Naomi, her mother-in-law.

Torah

Mapping Out Israelites’ Journey

B’Midbar, Numbers 1:1-4:20

By:

Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell

B'Midbar is the first portion of the fourth book of the Torah. The word means "in the wilderness," and "aptly captures the challenges the book describes,” says Professor Tamara Eskenazi.