Years ago, I read a description of Judaism as a two-part system: yiddishkeit (Jewishness) and mentschlichkeit (humanitarianism). Yiddishkeit, of course, refers to all our particular Jewish activities like keeping Shabbat, Purim, and Passover, et al. Mentschlichkeit refers to Judaism’s ethical system and is extensively addressed in the Torah and throughout...
It has been a long time coming. On Wednesday, October 28, 2020, I was scheduled for a regular doctor’s appointment including my annual fall flu shot. Little did I know that my whole life was going to change and that after a single “listen” on the stethoscope, I would be...
The tradition of a Purim Shpiel dates back to from the fifteenth century (or earlier), and they have an important place in Jewish history. Purim Shpiels not only bring us some comic relief, but they also tell the Purim story with historical reference and cultural flavor. From a Purim Shpiel...
The portion Terumah contains several ideas that are incredibly relevant to us today. This Shabbat we are reading the seventh portion of Sh’mot/Exodus. The dramatic and momentous events of the previous weeks’ Sidrot/portions have now happened. The disparate collection of former slaves have come together as Am Yisrael, the Nation...
Keeping Current with the RAC Initiatives Re: Covid Relief Bill currently being discussed in the U.S. House of Representatives In my last message, I shared some information from The Religious Action Center and I would like to continue sharing some of the political and legislative outreach that continues on behalf of...
My grandmother told me “it doesn’t cost anything to be kind.” Kindness is one of those beautiful gifts of the human heart. Kindness is flexible, it is forgiving, and it is spacious. In this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim, we are reminded of these lessons of kindness. Having just left Egypt,...
Dear Congregants, In each e-KI we share a link to the weekly update from the Religious Action Center (RAC), the political and legislative outreach arm of Reform Judaism in the United States. My hope is that, as a congregation immersed in Tikkun Olam, particularly at a local level, our congregants...
It is now almost one year since Covid began impacting everyday life in the United States and around the world. Covid-19 is the most significant public health crisis in over a century and has profoundly affected the way we live, what we do and what we do not do as...
Fair Districts PA Presents Program About the Dangers of Gerrymandering – Watch Here! By Rachel Goff, Social Justice Committee Member The Social Justice Committee hosted William Gross, a speaker form Fair Districts PA, on Jan. 25 who examined the dangers of gerrymandered districts. Gerrymandering, Mr. Gross pointed out, reduces competition,...
In this week’s Torah portion, B’shalach, while we celebrated our freedom and danced along the shores of the sea, it was coupled with fear and doubt about what was to come. The question of “will God continue to sustain us?” In Exodus 17:3, after we crossed to freedom, we started...
