Category: Jewish Identity

How Leonard Cohen “Made Me Jewish”

How did Leonard Cohen make me Jewish? In part, I learned to believe in myself. And that was only the first step in a longer ...

Cody Fitzpatrick December 15, 2024 Jewish Identity Living

What is feminist Torah and how do we do it?

Feminist Torah is an approach to how we relate to Torah and a set of commitments about which Torah to draw from in our teaching ...

Rabbi Avigayil Halpern December 2, 2024 Community Inclusion

Temple Envy

This an exploration of my "temple envy" through the emotions of grief, wonder, and desire for Jewish unity during a recent vacation to Nikko.

Rabbi Alex Hamilton May 22, 2024 Every Day Holidays

A Conservative Jew in Jerusalem

What is it like being a Conservative Jew in Jerusalem and how do we understand the holiness of the holiest place in the world?

Emily Jaeger December 26, 2023 Conservative Judaism Israel

The Art of Assimilating Wisely

Hanukkah—when we read about the Maccabees resisting assimilation and Joseph embracing it—is a time to look at the art of assimilation wisely.

Rabbi David Baum December 14, 2023 Hanukkah Hanukkah Reflections

My Good Mensches, We Are Modern Maccabees

We are the Maccabees of our modern time and we have the responsibility to keep the Ner Tamid lit for another generation.

Andi Kahclamat November 28, 2023 #beamaccabee Hanukkah

Jewish Pride Guides My Actions

From a love of Judaism and Jewish history, my Jewish pride guides my actions, both public and private, and defines my sense of self.

Valerie S. Thaler, Ph.D. November 28, 2023 #beamaccabee Hanukkah

Deja Jew, or, Asking the Question Yet Again: Why Be Jewish?

Dig deeper into Jewish identity, memory, spirituality, and wisdom, exploring more into the question: "Why Be Jewish?"

Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson August 13, 2023 Daily Living Embodied Prayer

What is Healthy Jewish Pride?

What is healthy Jewish pride? While exploring the past, present, and future of Chanukah, Rabbi Bernat-Kunin proposes a new home ritual.

Rabbi Gordon Bernat-Kunin, PhD May 10, 2023 Hanukkah Hanukkah Reflections

The Risks of Playing Jewish Geography

In the game of Jewish geography, you connect with who you don’t know by connecting through who you do know. But is the game good ...

Rabbi Susan Leider November 17, 2022 Community Every Day

What does it take to feel Jewish?

Collecting experiences helps us feel like we belong. By doing ‘Jewish,’ we create meaningful Jewish lives where spirituality feels less contrived.

Rabbi Susan Leider November 16, 2022 Conversion Jewish Identity