Tag: judaism

Bubbe is the reason we are observant Jews. When our children were just promises in the distant future, my husband and I struggled to figure out how we wanted to raise them.

The Sh’ma, as it sometimes called, is the essence of Judaism, so why were so many non-Jews saying it? Because of one atrocious act of hate, a swastika painted on the temple sometime during High Holy Day services, because of that we were all here together.

I vividly remember objecting when our twin daughters were about 8 or 9 years old and asked about a Harry Potter themed b’not mitzvah (b’not is the plural of bat). I argued, “Absolutely not. Harry Potter has nothing to do with Judaism.

Although I have known and admired many Jews who might call themselves traditional, I’m not likely ever to do so myself. As I understand it, Hyphen’s worldview may represent Conservative Judaism more than mine, which skews Reform (if we’re handing out labels).

A few years back I heard a rabbi speak. He told us something that I have thought of often since then.“People assume,” he said, “that following the Law is a burden, that it’s a chore. But actually,” he went on, “it’s a joy.”

(RNS) One in four people globally are anti-Semitic, and nearly half the world has never heard of -- or denies or believes the Holocaust is exaggerated -- a new study finds.

Sometimes being Jewish feels inherently controversial. Hence the old saying: “Ask two Jews, get three opinions.”