September 26, 2026 | 15 Tishri 5787
My memories of Judaism as a child are primarily composed of visceral and sweet moments. Sinking my teeth into a perfectly dense and crunchy bagel, with a bite of salty lox and a lick of cream cheese. Tightness in my chest as I resisted gasping for air holding the long note of “Ve’imeruuuuuuu…..” during […]
Many of you have probably never heard of the Secure Community Network, but it’s an important Jewish community watchdog, and I was glad to represent our Jewish community at the Network’s Homeland Security Summit. The Secure Community Network is the official homeland security and safety initiative of the organized Jewish community in North America. Founded in 2004, under the auspices of The Jewish Federations of […]
Maybe you already know that Monday, Jan. 17th, is both Tu Bishvat and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This rare confluence gives us an opportunity to see a connection. As the climate and ecological crisis worsens, the importance of Tu Bishvat is becoming better recognized. It is a day sometimes known as the “birthday of the trees” and has essentially been our Jewish Earth Day for […]
As the Jewish community, and the world at large, struggles to recuperate from the effects of COVID-19 and other challenges of the past two years – I participated in a meeting with nine Shluchim (Chabad emissaries) from across the US. After the high holidays, we convened to plan a course of action to lift […]
Suggesting New Year’s resolutions for other people doesn’t seem like a best practice, but here we go. I’d like to suggest a new path for the national media. I’ve known so many journalists who take pride in safeguarding against their own bias, working so hard to write fairly and objectively. All of this is […]
The constant barrage of COVID-19 information we read or hear about in the news can be confusing; even more so when what we read on the internet or hear from friends is incomplete, incorrect, or downright misleading. None of us want to get sick or infect a loved one, but we also want to live […]
I am not a rabbi, nor a woman. I am a physician, husband, father, grandfather and a reader of the Chronicle who feels compelled to respond to Rabbi Rachael Pass’ “Opinion: My Jewish approach to my abortion,” October 2021. My purpose is not to attack ad hominem, but rather to present some criticisms, and […]
The Wisconsin Council of Rabbis approved the following statement unanimously. Over and over again, Jewish values and Jewish law prioritize health and life above everything else. As members of the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis, in conjunction with every mainstream rabbinical organization, we believe that Judaism requires all of us to be vaccinated against COVID-19, as […]
The Internet and media are glowing with anger. It’s the kind of anger that can precede a career-dismantling “cancellation” in our current culture. Regardless of whether the current target, comedian Dave Chappelle, deserves that, I do, as a Jew, find it disturbing that there’s a digital mob roaming around and meting out justice. We […]
It hit me like a strong punch to the gut. During a keynote address, the speaker asked us if we knew the names of our grandparents. Most in attendance raised their hands. He then asked us if we knew the names and something about all eight of our great-grandparents. Less than half responded. I […]
