Jewish on Earth

TO those who say we never see miracles or talk directly with G-d anymore, I say, “Nonsense.” We constantly stand in their presence; we just fail to appreciate them.  We fill our lives with distractions, and only notice miracles that...

The primary emphasis of Western religions is to celebrate events that occurred in one place — the Land of Canaan (a.k.a. The Land of Milk and Honey, Judea & Samaria, Roman Palestine, etc.). That focus on one locale provides...

THIS year Earth Day fell on the Friday of Pesach. It was successful: the earth is still here. Of course, the earth was here before humans arrived, and will be here long after they’re gone. However, I vote...

WE skeptical humans have always greeted novelty with suspicion. We prefer what makes us feel safe and comfortable, not what challenges us. That’s why concepts like global climate change, carbon trading, waste-free business and social equity confound us. It’s easier...

PERHAPS Israel should change its national anthem from “Hatikva” to “Dayenu.” For the Jewish State, so dependent on the support of powerful allies, a song that expresses thanks and delight for every new blessing seems more appropriate than...

WE just celebrated Tu b’Shevat. It’s about: • adaptability, • openness to change, • investment in the future . . . and incidentally, • why to become vegetarian. We brainy homo sapiens are the latest hominid in 2.5 million years of evolution, from...

At a time when fundamentalist religious fringe groups are doing their best to bring on the next world by destroying this one, it’s thrilling to see a bigger, more powerful movement of interfaith and progressive religious communities engaged in...

I MARVEL at how many brilliant Jewish finance minds have significantly contributed to the meltdown and resurrection of the US economy. While the Boeskys, Milkens, Madoffs, Frankels, Bear Stearns, Kolberg Kravitzs and Goldman Sachs speculated and crashed, the Summers,...

AS Americans repeat their centuries-old folly of inflaming anti-immigrant passions, we might remind ourselves that the Torah commands us 36 separate times to love or provide for the stranger. That’s more than for Shabbat, sacrifices, Yom Kippur or kashrut....

EVERY ending is a new beginning.  This last month of summer vacation deposits us at the start of the new school year, and Rosh Hashanah. What have we learned this summer, and this past year that can carry us forward...