Chosen Together: The Ethical Significance of Shavuot

Rabbi Bradley Artson
5781
by Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson
posted on May 13, 2021
Why is the festival of Shavuot called "the time of the giving of our Torah" and not the time of the receiving of our Torah?  Because the giving of the Torah happened at one specified time, but the receiving of the Torah happens at every time and in every generation.                                                             – Rabbi Meir Alter of Ger  Read more...

Memories and Questions

Photo of Michael Berenbaum
by Dr. Michael Berenbaum
posted on May 9, 2021
Each year as Yom Yerushalayim approaches, I am flooded with memories and questions. Permit me to share both with you. I was in Jerusalem on the day of its reunification and I went to the Western Wall with more than 100,000 Israelis but 6 days later to celebrate Shavuot and what seemed then like Israel’s miraculous victory. Read more...

Mother’s Day: A Celebration of Love and Forgiveness

Photo of Rabbi Sherre Hirsch
by Rabbi Sherre Hirsch
posted on May 6, 2021
Long before cancel culture was even in the lexicon, my brother and I decided to cancel Mother’s Day. We were rebellious teens and had incorrectly read that the holiday was invented by Hallmark to drive sales. As vociferous individualists against commercialism, we took a personal stand. Our plan was not well received. My father was furious, and my mother was destroyed. To this day, I still remember the tears gathering in her eyes as we explained why there would be no cards or gifts. I thought she would never forgive us. Read more...