Jewish Voices, Jewish Lives

It’s what we do every day. Whether it’s the food we favor…a bagel with shmear… or the drive to repair the world…tikkun olam, we Jews are there, especially in Rockland County. We plan to bring Doing Jewish to you every Friday. Sometimes it’ll be fun, sometimes it’ll be serious.

If Not You, If Not Now

I know that many of you, our newsletter subscribers, have been reading these weekly messages regularly, for up to three years. It has been an honor and a privilege for me to write for our community, to share thoughts, ideas, convictions and consolation. It has been especially cathartic for m…

Recognizing Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month

This month, we honor Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month, a time to bring together Jewish communities around the globe to increase awareness that every member of our community, regardless of ability, deserves access and opportunities to engage in Jewish life.

Individuals with va…

Black History Month

February is Black History Month and for the Jewish community, that means a time to reflect upon the many historic instances of African American and Jewish unity. From the civil rights movement to a variety of iconic cultural events, it is important to remember the vast impact the African Ame…

Deconstructing the Genocide Blood Libel

Strap in. This is going to be a long read, but it’s worth it.

Our community is very familiar with the murder of 6 million of our people during the Shoah.

The word Genocide was first conceived and used by Polish-Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin a year before the death camps were revealed and …

It’s Not Ours, But It’s Vital

Nine years ago, I was engaged in a discussion with a colleague about the utility of the January 27th International Holocaust Memorial Day which is observed on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. At the time, I was remarking on what looked to me like a misdirection of focus. I wro…