Blaming God for such tragedies is theologically problematic; blaming God for failed human policies is blasphemous. This idea is worth considering as we cope with the devastating aftermath of the multiple disasters confronting us. 

Read Rabbi Rick Jacobs' remarks at the recent webinar co-hosted by the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

After several synagogue shootings, American Jews are grappling with the need to keep our communities safe and to remain open and welcoming to seekers of all backgrounds.

Our fears of toxicity and the preventative tactics they induce testify to how much surrounding American cultural norms have seeped into our institutions.

I want to talk briefly about a significant number from the Pew report, but first I want to invite you to go on a short journey with me as I create the framing around numbers and their significance by simply asking a question: What exactly is a number?  

The unveiling of the Pew Study of Jewish Americans is a moment of both trepidation and excitement for those of us who are working in the Jewish community – paid or volunteer

Examining four key takeaways from research into participation and engagement in the 2020 High Holidays.

They cannot determine what the future will be but give us a snapshot of where we are. And they allow us to be strategic and smart about how we steer Jewish life.

Through my varied professional responsibilities - overseeing synagogue membership, outreach, programming, and eventually philanthropy - I increasingly focused on ensuring that all our lay and professional efforts were in alignment with our vision so that the sacred could be experienced regardless of the portal through which one entered.