Fresh Takes

Two cantors give their take on this month’s question: What are your “silver linings” coming out of this quarantine experience? Cantor Natasha J. Hirschhorn of Congregation Ansche Chesed in New York, New York “Our new reality presented us with some of the most difficult trials we may have ever experienced: the staggering loss of life, illness, isolation, economic hardships, and uncertain future. With so m...

Rabbis around the country are preparing to deliver some of their most important sermons of 2019 this Rosh Hashanah. We asked three of these rabbis what most inspired them to write these messages. Rabbi Neil Sandler, Ahavath Achim Synagogue of Atlanta, Georgia “More than anything, as I prepare one of the High Holiday messages I will share with my congregation this year, I know that my inspiration is Harry. Yep, without ...

With Tisha B’Av, the annual day of mourning for tragedies throughout generations, fast approaching, we asked two rabbis, “Where can God be found in response to tragedy?”   Rabbi Jeremy Fine, Temple of Aaron of St. Paul, Minnesota “My response begins with a singular guiding principle that I quickly learned in the rabbinate; no two experiences are alike. When a family is in mourning, their reactions to that loss are ...

Conservative rabbis give their take on the question: How should we as Jews approach immigration according to the Torah?   Rabbi David Russo, Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago, Illinois: “Time and again, the Torah repeats how we must treat the stranger: You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 23:9) When a stranger resid...

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...

Two Conservative rabbis give their take on this big life question: Why were we created?   Rabbi Ari Kaiman, Congregation Shearith Israel in Atlanta, Georgia “When God created the universe through speech, God created us B’tzelem Elohim, in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). We were created to further the project of God’s creation. We further creation through our unique gift of human speech. We are able to see our ...