Three generations of the Daitz family attend Israel. With her husband, Ronald, on one side and her two sons, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren—ages 9, 14 and 17—on the other, Linda Daitz couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and gratitude as three generations of her family experienced the power of Israel together as part of Park Avenue Synagogue’s historic trip. Ranging from infants to seniors, congregants ...
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Michael Landau, AIA Michael Landau, AIA, who has more than 50 years of experience in the planning, design and construction of worship facilities and whose design work has been recognized nationally through awards, publications and exhibitions, answers the question: What’s a journey you’re on right now and what excites you most about it? The design of synagogues has been an integral aspect of my 50-plus years long c...
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Right down the road from Ruth Newstock’s home in Memphis, Tennessee, a nearby church opens its doors every Tuesday night during the winter months so those who are homeless can have a hot meal and warm place to sleep. Given her cheery, friendly personality, it’s no surprise that when a friend asked Ruth if she wanted to volunteer one evening, she quickly accepted the offer. At that time, as a soon-to-be 12 year old,...
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Purim celebrates the bravery of a young woman named Esther who was chosen to be the wife of King Ahasuerus of Persia. When the King’s adviser, Haman, persuades him to kill all the Jews in the empire, Queen Esther’s cousin and adopted father, Mordecai, calls on her to use her influence and stop the plan. The tale is told in the Book of Esther, known as the Megillah, and ends with Haman’s hanging and the Jewish people saved...
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Conservative rabbis give their take on the question: Is it okay for Jews to not believe in God? Rabbi Eric Woodward, Tiferet Bet Israel in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania: “That’s not an easy question! First, what does ‘okay’ mean? Does it mean, ‘Are you still Jewish if you do not believe in God?’ Or does it mean, ‘Is belief in God a mitzvah and disbelief a sin?’ Second, what does it mean to ‘believe in’ somethin...
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Ask any travel guide the must-see places to visit during a spring break trip to Israel and you might hear suggestions like the Western Wall, Tower of David, Yad Vashem, Masada or Independence Hall. While there’s good reason these rank among Israel’s top attractions, there’s more to the Holy Land than meets the average tourist eye. Siblings Brandon and Lily have both experienced Israel through USCJ’s Nativ college leade...
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For the 28 athletes who represented Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, an international 16-team tournament held once every four years, it was never just about the game of baseball. Even when the team, which entered the tournament ranked 41st in the world and were dubbed “MLB wannabes and has-beens”, defeated then-3rd in the world South Korea in the opening game in Seoul, followed by three straight wins agai...
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Step into Stein Hall at Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Houston, Texas any fourth Thursday of the month and you might witness “Ann,” a 102-year-old African-American woman in a wheelchair mouthing the words to an old song being performed or moving her hands during tai chi. Or one of the other seniors who range in age from their 60s to 90s—like “David,” a war veteran who always sports his veteran’s baseball cap with a smile, ...
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The Bar/Bat Mitzvah is one of the greatest and most memorable milestones in the life of a Jew. In fact, the process and culminating celebration can be a real turning point that inspires pride in Jewish identity and heritage and a lifelong passion for Jewish learning and practice. However, some believe this is being lost to the increasingly lavish nature of Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrations. Studies show the average cost of ...
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“You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes.” —Deuteronomy 6:8 Jewish men who perform tefillin—binding the boxes and straps onto their head and upper arm during prayer—may be doing more than creating a bond between the God who commands and the man who performs the powerful mitzvah. It could be good for the heart, too, says a study by researchers at the Uni...
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