A Pandemic for Our Age
COVID-19 began in Wuhan, China, with little worldwide attention. Initially viewed in America as a distant, small problem, it was quickly evident that the novel coronavirus was more than the common flu.
Emunah in the Face of Uncertainty
Faith.Trust.Belief.Religion.
America & Civil Religion
Everybody has a religion. For some, this religion is theological. For others, it is the religion of science. In fact, most have a religion of nationality. Religion is the belief in and worship in a superhuman controlling power. Google Dictionary, February 2020 To fully appreciate this conversation, some history may be of benefit for the…
Environmentalism & Tu B’Shevat
What is Tu B’Shevat? Some call it the new year for trees. Other call it the birthday for trees. Our mesora, however, teaches us that it’s celebrated as the new year for trees but actually marks the birthday of the tree – Aytz Chaim – the tree of life.
On Rubber Bands, Nuclear Threats, and Inner Calm
The higher the tension in a situation, the more likely things will go sideways. It isn’t just about nuclear treaties or missile threats – the same applies in basic physics and daily life. This is where we can take a clear lesson using a far more dangerous approach – rubber bands.
Equality & Equity
Contemporary society clamors for equality. Society wants equal rights in: Marriage Citizenship Job Opportunities Food And So Much More
White Space & Dark Mode
The world today has a fascination with the dark. It used to be that the fascination was with the light – and that was only a mere year ago. But again, as Koheles writes, there is nothing new under the sun.
Beyond Our Reach
Space. The final frontier. Or is it? Life is addictive. Every day we are offered more and more that we want to grab ahold of. We want it all and panic if we can’t have something. This panic is actually a diagnosis on social media: FOMO, or fear of missing out.
Wants & Needs
There are a lot of things in life we may want, but do we need them? There are also a lot of things in life we may need, but do we truly want them?
Acheinu Kol Beis Yisrael
What is your identity? For the Jewish people, religious or secular, Zionist or otherwise, our identity is that of acheinu, mishpacha. For those not as familiar with the Hebrew terminology, acheinu means brothers and mishpacha is family.
Ethno-Religio-Cultural People Group?
What Does It Mean to Be Jewish? Jewish identity is not solely religious, nor is it solely national. We have a long tradition and history as a people group that makes the Jewish an ethnicity, Yiddishkeit a culture, and Judaism a religion. Whether Jewish by birth or a convert, to be Jewish is not a…
Bikkurim for the New Year
In this week’s Parasha, Ki Savo, the text opens with the bringing of fruit to the altar. This seems rather normal, since it takes a year to read through the Torah. What is rather abnormal about it, however, is that it is actually quite a timely portion to read.