Participation in the Jewish community is a very personal experience. For some, it involves regular attendance at Sabbath services. For others, it may be keeping up with Jewish news from online sources and weekly newspapers. But for Jews around the world, we are all conscious of a pattern of Jewish life as we go through the year – certain holidays, seasonal rituals and foods.One way … Continue reading Zeresh, Hagar, & the Stories Not Told
With apologies to Bostonians… the great New York catcher/manager Yogi Berra, who passed away this week, used to say that “It ain’t over till it’s over.” With regard to the debate on the Iran nuclear deal, I’d offer that, “It’s all but over, but the work has not even barely begun.” I must admit that I was a bit naïve this summer. I honestly thought that reasonable … Continue reading Our Wilderness Moment
Last night, JCRC was very proud to host JCRC Celebrates: Generations of Service, where we recognized JCRC’s community service programs and the generations of leaders who’ve made them possible. Through the generosity of our community, our inaugural live auction raised nearly $45,000 to benefit our service programs, and we are extremely appreciative to all. Why, some have asked, do we put service programs at the … Continue reading Why Service?
Last week President Obama was in Alaska where he restored Mount McKinley to its earlier native name, Denali. Me? I was sitting on a beach devouring a pile of books. Allow me a moment to recommend three of them. Sylvia Engdahl’s young adult science fiction novel This Star Shall Abide had a profound impact on me when I first read it in the mid 1970’s. I … Continue reading For This First Week of School, My Summer Book Report
On June 28, 1894, the federal government enacted a law “Making Labor Day a Legal Holiday,” setting aside the first Monday of September to honor the social and economic achievements of organized American workers. For the casual observer, Labor Day typically marks the end of summer, the return to school and the end of the generally acceptable period to wear white (or the summer dress code … Continue reading Our Labor Day Obligation | A Message from our Government Affairs Director
Among my responsibilities as JCRC Associate Director, I have the enviable job of accompanying Christian clergy on Israel Study Tours, experiences that never fail to be both fascinating and intense. I’d like to share a few reflections from this year’s trip. (Also visit The Jewish Journal for an account of the trip in the 8/28/15 issue.) The group we assembled were diverse in every respect; theologically, ethnically … Continue reading Courage and Complexity | A Message from Our Associate Director
As you read this, I’ve already left for a two week vacation. Not everyone in this world is blessed to be able to take meaningful time away from work for respite and rejuvenation. Many people don’t have paid vacation where they work and many more can’t afford to go anyplace during the time that they do have. Then of course there are those whose companies encourage … Continue reading Appreciation
So here’s a frightening thought: This weekend brings the beginning of the Jewish month of Elul. The end of summer is on the horizon and with it the end of vacations, a return to schools, legislatures going back into session, and for Boston – dare I say it – a start to preparing for the coming winter. Elul also brings an opportunity for reflection. This month … Continue reading Breaking Our Patterns
One thing we often lose sight of as we grapple with and debate the dilemmas of the moment is the Jewish historical continuum; the links in a chain that go back thousands of years and that connect us to future eras. The interconnectedness of generations to each other, the ways in which we hold a responsibility to past and future, and how we transmit our … Continue reading Generations of Service
One of the challenges of a weekly deadline post is that I write something a day or two ahead, it gets vetted, edited, formatted, and then gets published on Friday. In between that writing moment – usually by Thursday morning – and that sending moment, things happen. Usually they don’t profoundly alter my state and balance, but sometimes… The last thirty-six hours have brought an … Continue reading Finding Comfort by Facing Our Fears