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How the Ten Commandments get lost in translation in the new Louisiana law
Like many Jewish Louisianans, I followed with interest the so-called “Ten Commandments” bill which Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed into law this week. It requires public schools, including public...
View ArticleTwelve tough questions and simple answers about Israel
My good friend, Taglit-Birthright Israel’s CEO Gidi Mark, challenged me recently: “Can you offer short, punchy answers to some of the pressing questions our participants have—and some of the...
View ArticleJewish Jokes: Did you hear the one about Jacob and his wife?
I was recently asked by the mother of an old friend, “Why I do a “Jewish Joke of the Day.” I responded and she thought I should share my answer. I believe as Jews, we love to laugh. I believe Jews love...
View ArticleD’var Torah: We are equipped to resist fear, face challenges of tomorrow
Despite the miraculous journey on which the people had been traveling, when faced with deciding on whether to continue going forward, the people were afraid. They looked back on the halcyon days when...
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Comparing Trump’s immunity case to Talmudic teachings
If former President Trump incited a riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, was he doing so as the sitting president, or as a private citizen? This may seem rather beside the point — the federal case against...
View ArticleThe ripple effect of Korach’s rebellion: Reflections on shared responsibility...
In the Tanakh, one can often tell quite a bit about who people are just by the meaning of their names. Eve comes from the word life, Abraham means father of multitudes, David is beloved. So when you...
View ArticleClergy Call To Action- Let’s seize the moment and get Wesley Bell to Washington
With a month to go until the MO-01 primary, we, rabbis and cantors from across the Jewish spectrum, write once again, in our personal, private capacities, with a clear and unified message: Let’s get...
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Bean counting racial outcomes is no way to achieve equality
Yes, unfortunately, there is still racism in America. There will probably always be a degree of racism in America, as there is in virtually every country on earth. It is almost impossible to rid the...
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We’ve been here before: Reproductive rights redux
Dr. Frances Levine has held executive leadership positions as the former President, Missouri Historical Society; she served for the opening year as Interim President, St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust...
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Trump and Rabin: Two assassination attempts with different outcomes
Rob Eshman reported this story from the streets of Jerusalem. JERUSALEM — The rifle shots that rang out in Pennsylvania, nearly killing former President Donald Trump, echoed in Israel as well. In a...
View ArticleProgressive Jews of St. Louis defend Cori Bush’s record
As members of the St. Louis Jewish community, we are compelled to respond to a recent letter by some area Rabbis that mischaracterizes the record of Congresswoman Cori Bush. Bush is a supporter of...
View ArticleBilaam: A Mt. Sinai business school case study
Would you hire Bilaam to work at your Jewish organization? Let’s check out his resume. Bilaam’s previous job titles include dream interpreter, magician, and most recently, prophet via ruach hakodesh,...
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Secrets of the Torah Revealed: How five sisters altered the course biblical...
“A person is given three names: one that their parents call them, one their fellows call them, and one that they acquire with their deeds.” (Midrash Tanhuma, Va-yakhel) Mahlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milcah and...
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‘Lowcuterie’ and other random ideas I have to share
I have a lot of random ideas swimming around in my head. They’re doing laps, jumping off the high dive and frankly just taking up space. It’s time to purge my flooded brain. • Charcuterie boards can...
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Shapiro need not apologize for a op-ed he wrote 31 years ago
“I do not believe that the Israelis and the Palestinians have achieved peace, nor do I believe that this will mark an end to the blood and tears,” the 20-year-old student argued in a 1993 op-ed in his...
View ArticleDiscover the secret behind Moses’ final message
Every parent has at one time or another instructed his/her child to “use your words” when asking for something instead of using pointing, grunting, crying, yelling or such nonverbal behavior. Human...
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Reject choice between ethics and competence — you can’t have one without the...
This column is not about politics. It’s about leadership. It’s about how leaders who communicate honestly, inspire trust and model integrity achieve enduring success while promoting positive cultural...
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Is Tisha B’Av still meaningful after Oct. 7?
This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward’s free email newsletters delivered to your inbox. Ten years ago, on Aug. 9, 2014, 18-year-old Michael Brown Jr. was...
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Ekev’s secret: why even the smallest acts have cosmic significance
Ekev also signifies “heel.” Every generation is a heel generation, in the sense that everything previous has contributed to everything we do, all previous actsrest on the heel of the present, and so...
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This Torah portion reveals the one command that can transform society
Author Elie Wiesel tells the story of the one righteous man of Sodom, who walked the streets protesting the injustices of his city. People made fun of him, derided him. Finally, a young person asked:...
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