This past Shabbat we witnessed the deadliest anti-Semitic attack against our people in American history. Eleven gentle souls entered their Pittsburgh synagogue, greeted one another with Shabbat Shalom, and settled into their regular seats they have sat in for decades … Read More
Blog Archives
For the Love of Israel
We live in complicated times where almost everything seems to be politicized. Israel is no exception, and is a lightning rod when it comes to political divisiveness both globally, and more concerning, within the Jewish community. It is not that … Read More
Who Are We Anyway?
When you ask your child to think of a story about a character taking off shoes, what do you want the association to be? Cinderella, or Moses at the burning bush? This is one of many poignant questions Avraham Infeld … Read More
Where Truth Can Be Found
From time to time I am asked how religion and science intersect at Hillel. Many people believe that there must be an inherent tension between science and religion, as if one possesses the “right” answer about questions of the universe, … Read More
A Lesson in the Trees
If we knew this would be our last year on earth, how would we look at the trees? This thought crossed my mind as I walked to synagogue on Shabbat. Against the grayish sky, the colors on the trees were … Read More
2058
I often imagine what it must have been like to be in the Detroit homes of Rabbi Jacob E. Segal and others, back in the 1950s, when a group of visionaries discussed the possibility of opening a Jewish day school. … Read More
Is There Room For Multiple Jewish Voices at Hillel?
My blog post from two weeks ago on Halloween and Shabbat elicited several comments that were spirited and passionate, but, sadly, sometimes intolerant and defensive in nature. These comments brought to the surface the tension that can and does exist … Read More