Torah
Let’s head into the new year in a new frame of mind
The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Vayechi Genesis 50:14-21 “Great is peace,” said…
Religion
Which blessing should you say when you get the Covid-19 vaccine?
Jewish liturgy offers blessings for seemingly every occasion, from ritual moments (such as lighting Shabbat candles) to sublime experiences (seeing a…
Astrolojew
The ‘great conjunction’ of Jupiter and Saturn: good for the Jews?
Tevet 5781 Dec. 16, 2020-Jan. 13, 2021 The “great conjunction” of Jupiter/Tzedek and Saturn/Shabbatai, which has been in the news lately, has special…
Torah
Today’s lesson: A better tomorrow
The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Miketz Genesis 41:1-44:17 The start of this week’s…
Art
No time to study Kabbalah? Try the coloring book
The complex teachings of Kabbalah can take years to learn, much less master. Why not start by coloring them in? Tzfat-based artist David Friedman has…
Bay Area
Two historic S.F. synagogues become one
There’s a new synagogue on the scene in San Francisco. It doesn’t have a name yet, but it can trace its roots to 1860 and it owns two buildings. In…
Bay Area
The pandemic can’t stop SF's Union Square menorah lighting
It wouldn’t have been a first-night Hanukkah celebration in this year of tumult without at least something unexpected happening. Sure enough, as Rabbi…
Torah
The Maccabees stood up to the wicked — we need to do the same
The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Hanukkah recalls a time more than 2,000 years ago…
Religion
A Bechdel Test for Jewish text study?
When Danielle Kranjec committed to using only Jewish texts written by women and queer people in the classes she taught for Hillel International’s…