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Young Families
Jordana Schmier
May 17, 2013

Compassion by example

Sometimes we forget how much our children learn by the examples we provide. Sure, we are acutely aware of this when something comes out of our mouths that we wish had not – but we have plenty of opportunities to provide positive examples, too... Read More

Weekly Jewish Wisdom
Erica Brown
May 14, 2013

The Ten Commandments of Friendship

"Friendship or death." The Talmud. This short quote on friendship packs a powerful punch. Without friendship, the quality of life dwindles. Friendship can save lives; we learn this both in BT Ta'anit 23a and read it in the book of Ruth. Naomi, powerless and alone, rebuilt her life because another woman even more powerless than she, made her a companion for life. Aristotle wrote that, "A friend is a second self, so that our consciousness of a friend's existence...makes us more fully conscious of our own existence." I thought, reflecting on the two central texts of Shavuot, to merge the Mount Sinai narrative with story of Ruth and Naomi ... Read More.

Love and Religion
Marion L. Usher, Ph.D.
May 7, 2013

What An Incredible Day!

On Sunday, April 28th, the Jewish Federation of Washington sponsored a "Conversation about Interfaith." This was a landmark occasion where interfaith couples, Jewish communal workers, and donors came together to listen and to participate in a dialogue. The positive energy in the room was palpable. The audience heard presentations from interfaith couples, and from both local and national groups. The breakout groups were buzzing. No one wanted to leave his or her groups. Participants were stimulated by the discussion and they wanted more.... Read More.

No Power in the 'Verse
Salem Pearce
May 6, 2013

asking g-d

In my Talmud class we’re reading a section from Baba Metzia called the “gold chapter”; it deals first with honesty in business exchanges and then moves on to honesty in personal interactions, or ona’at devarim, “oppression with words.” As is typical of gemara, the rabbis discuss the nature of the issue at hand and use Biblical passages and stories to back up their arguments. In an extreme moment, one of the rabbis notes that if someone embarrasses a friend, it is as if that person has spilled blood. They are especially concerned with ona’at devarim because, they say, the gates of prayer are always open to tears; that is, G-d always hears the petitions of those who have been oppressed by words.... Read More.

Active Retirees
Jane Rosenthal
May 3, 2013

Advocacy on Capitol Hill

Given the strident voices raised on the issues of gun control, background checks and the withdrawal of vital services for seniors, I felt I had to do something. It would have been so easy for to let others take up leadership roles to support my core beliefs, but I realized that there are some issues so important I had to take a stand... Read More.

Inspired Jewish Leadership
Orlee Turitz
May 2, 2013

Charitable Decisions

And if you should say, “What will we eat in the seventh year? We will not sow, and we will not gather in our produce!" Leviticus Chapter 25, Verse 20. Good question! In the 25^th chapter of Leviticus, God tells the people that they will need to rest their fields for an entire year, a sabbatical. I love the way the Bible brings forward the fear of the people – What are we going to eat if we can’t farm? This is not a utopian world where people blindly follow instruction. The commandment of the sabbatical year brings with it a host of fears and uncertainty and the Bible names that fear and addresses it.... Read More.

Special Needs
Melissa Hochberg
April 19, 2013

Talking to our children

How can I explain the maddening and unnecessary heartbreak at the finish line of the Boston Marathon to my son when I can’t even understand it myself? How do we explain the many challenges in life to our children with or without special needs? We do our best to explain things on the appropriate level. Adults often try to explain a situation or an event, such as the Boston Marathon bombings, by keeping in mind the children's need to feel secure and their age appropriate or developmental level of understanding... Read More.

DC-Ach
Anton Goodman
April 8, 2013

Days of Awe

Yom Ha’Atzamaut (Israeli Independence Day) is upon us: this April 15-16th, the 5th of Iyaar, marks the State of Israel’s 65th anniversary. In Israel this date has entered the Jewish calendar, its commemoration embedded in the Jewish, lunar, year bringing a cyclical period of emotion and significance. Yom HaShoah (holocaust remembrance day); Yom HaZicharon (memorial day) & Yom Ha’Atzmaut, these are our Israeli Days of Awe... Read More.

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