My colleague David Vorspan, Rabbi in Residence at New Community Jewish High School, provided me with my most meaningful Torah insight on vayeshev this morning. On his blog, he writes: The Most Important Man in the Torah? Who is the most important person? Perhaps it is the unidentified man in this week’s torah portion, Vayeshev …
Question: What do you get when you take four most thoughtful, compassionate, committed Jewish teens, with whom I have studied Judaism for eight to twelve years, and put them together up on the bimah at Erev Shabbat services? Answer: A very moving Confirmation Class service. Congregation Or Ami’s service last night was deeply meaningful. Our …
President-elect Obama is proving to be very interested in hearing from a spectrum of views on Israel and the Mideast. Though that will make right-wingers very nervous, it suggests that, based in Obama’s deep appreciation for and support of Israel, we might see some creative, wide support for negotiations and peace efforts in that troubled …
Or Ami is again in the news, when our Adopt a Child Abuse Caseworker program took to the mall to chaperone 40 foster kids through Kohl’s Department store in our annual Foster Childspree. View more pictures here. In full, the article in the Acorn newspaper was written by Coordinator Debbie Echt-Moxness, reporting: Seventy Or Ami …
Ha’aretz wrote a profile on the Harvey Milk movie. (My previous comments here.) Entitled Gay activism with a Yiddish inflection, the article explores some of the Jewish elements to gay activism: At the same time that Milk was pushing for people to come out of the closet and publicly embrace their gay identities, there was …
And the Bernie Madoff Fires Keep Burning Some Resources: A friend’s colleague’s friend’s family is unfortunately amongst the many investors who were affected by Bernie Madoff’s scams. She is active in the NY Jewish community and has created a group for families affected and who need help. If you know of any one who has …
Tropfest NY 2008 winner, “Mankind Is No Island” by Jason van Genderen Torah teaches us to care for the stranger, the widow, the orphan, the poor… Are we doing our job? Is it enough to go serve in a shelter or food pantry on Thanksgiving or New Years? According to the Los Angeles Coalition to …
We teach our kids that they were created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. That they are unique, worthy, valued. We teach our kids that their bodies are a gift from God, on loan from the Holy One. That they must take care of their bodies as their most prized possession. We teach our …
My wife and I saw Milk earlier this month, a poignant film about Harvey Milk, gay rights activist, politician, martyr. Each of us recalled elements of the story: Orange County-born wife remembered the havoc state Sen. John Briggs caused; I remember Anita Bryant’s joyous, musical homophobia. Both nauseated us. Watching the movie, one could not …
We recently heard about two tragedies in our Conejo Valley educational community: An Oak Park elementary teacher’s husband committed suicide. He had 2 small kids. He was a local photographer who was there as many of the children became B’nai Mitzvah. A Medea Creek Middle School 8th grader, Cody Badalato, died on Sunday after being …
Play your way through this Chanukah season. Bubbie’s Bubble Israel Adventure: Fascinating fun as kids learn about the Jewish State. Play with Bubbie. Virtual Dreidel Game: Can’t wait for the real thing? Stuck behind a desk but dreaming of spinning? Try JOI’s Virtual Dreidel Game. Practice the Dreidel Song: Captain Smartypants and his gang sing …
Need the words to Chanukah songs? Check out Cantor Cotler’s Chanukah Songsheet.
For those who love Texas Hold’em And those who love Chanukah: Texas Hold’em Driedel
I heard about another suicide. This time of an Oak Park elementary teachers who has 2 small kids. He was a local photographer who was there as many of the children became B’nai Mitzvah. Those who knew him and even those who did not, are shocked, scared and anxious. Many are reviewing their interactions with …
Need more Chanukah songsheets? Forget the Chanukah story but want to tell it?Looking for a deeper adult experience of Chanukah learning?Do the candles go in left to right or right to left? Chanukah Resources to Light Up Your Celebration All at www.orami.org/chanukah This beautiful flyer (which looks so much better in real life) was designed …