Discover a range of enriching and educational online activities hosted by our regional partners across the globe. Find engaging discussions and text study, services and readings of Megillat Ruth, open for members of our Movement in any time zone, in tens of countries, over the course of Shavuot.
Congratulations to Netzer FSU for winning the top three awards at the recent 25th International Purimshpeil Festival in Vitebsk.
During the holiday celebrations of Chanukah, as if inspired by the light brought into our dark, winter evenings, students from the Former Soviet Union who are participating in a MASA leadership program, participated in a meaningful and purposeful evening.
This is an unusual travelogue for me.
The afternoon before Rosh Hashanah, I was eating lunch at a Balinese vegan food restaurant with a Frenchman. He was telling me that he had put up a mezuzah on the door of his Balinese hotel room, when three lovely young Indonesian women, sisters from Jakarta, turn from their table and say, “I just couldn’t help but overhearing. Shanah Tova!”
This year I volunteered to serve a small and unusual kehillah (community) in Bali, Indonesia.
Soon Jewish families and congregations around the world will be getting together to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Few are familiar with a Sephardic custom of a Rosh Hashanah Seder – a festive meal rich in symbolism. This new cookbook from the Reform Jewish Community of Madrid (English-language edition) is designed to teach people about this ancient tradition and – for those who are interested in organizing their own Seder – it provides recipes and tools to do it.
Hanukkah was celebrated by Progressive communities large and small across Russia, each congregation celebrated in its own special way. In Tyumen, the Madregot community organized a Jewish culture festival from December 8-10. Tyumen congregation Community Spiritual Leader Igor Varkin and Chair Elena Mozgovaya, along with Cantor Dmitry Karpenko, took part in all events. The culmination of […]
If I had asked a Jewish person some thousand years ago, what is the meaning of the holiday of Tu B’shvat (15th of Shvat), I imagine they would have scratched their head in confusion. In the times of the Mishna, the 15th of Shvat was the date on which the taxation year for agricultural products […]
Every year, the Sociedad Israelita Brasileira (SIBRA) Congregation in Porte Alegre, Brazil, of which I am the President, comes together to celebrate Passover in a communal seder. This year, drawing upon years of the good and deep relationship between both our communities and spiritual leaders, the Archbishop of Porto Alegre, Dom Jaime Spengler, invited SIBRA […]
Who will we remember? Parashat Tzav (Leviticus 6:1-8:36) / Shabbat Zachor 5771-2011 By Rabbi Robert H. Loewy, Congregation Gates of Prayer , Metairie, LA, USA This is the week that Jews around the world are preparing for Purim. Shelach Manot gifts are ready for delivery. Costumes are prepared. The Purim shpiel is in final rehearsal and […]
Sukkoth and the challenge of refugees Recent Issues By Rabbi Michel Schlesinger A young man came to a rabbi for a chat. “I’ve bought a new car” said the young man to the rabbi. “Congratulations”, he replied. And the young man went on, “It has been a while since I have been saving to achieve […]