The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Bamidbar Numbers 1:1–4:20 The Book of Exodus describes how God reveals the covenantal laws to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. The Book of Leviticus then instructs the Israelites on the laws of sacrifice, purity and ethics, meant to…
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Religion
Astrolojew
Month of Sivan: This summer, let truth be your shield
Sivan 5781 May 12-June 10, 2021 Sivan is the month of Shavuot, the festival celebrating Divine revelation. Big, dramatic changes are revealed with the…
Local Voice
Surveys asking American Jews if they’re religious miss the point
In Sheldon Oberman’s children’s book “The Always Prayer Shawl,” a grandfather passes on his tallit to his grandson along with the sage advice, “Some…
Opinion
Take it from a fat rabbi: Nobody needs your dieting advice
Do you want to know one small but powerful way we could make Jewish life more inclusive? Stop telling fat people about your diet and asking if they’d like…
Shavuot
All-night Shavuot arts festival features local and national talent
“A virtual Jewish Burning Man” is how organizers are describing Dawn, Reboot’s all-night arts and culture festival in honor of Shavuot that will stream on…
Torah
This week’s Torah takeaway: Give yourself a needed rest
The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Behar-Bechukotai Leviticus 25:1–27:34 I, for one,…
First Person
Inside each buried Jewish book, a Jewish heart
A long-awaited construction project at our Manhattan synagogue, Ansche Chesed, is about to begin. Off in the distance we can glimpse our expanded lobby…
Film
Silicon Valley Jewish film fest: basketball, refuseniks, Shira Haas
The name Aulcie Perry may not be familiar to many American Jews, but during the late 1970s and early ’80s, he was one of the most famous people in Israel.…
Mixed & Matched
Issue of patrilineal descent raises some more questions
I was delighted by the many responses to my April column, “At a loss after my rabbi said I’m not allowed to read Torah.” Let’s walk through the…