Judaism

Torah

Why Did the People Complain Over Manna?

Newsmakers

West Philly Rabbi Gives Benediction at Prayer Breakfast

Local

Does Birthright Stifle Teen Travel?

Torah

On Jacob's Passing --and Future Generations

VAYECHI, Genesis 47:28-50:26

By:

Rabbi Joshua Runyan

A week after the holiday of Chanukah and its eight glorious nights of ever-increasing light, it's fair to say that when we approach this week's Torah portion, we're still on a spiritual high. And with the darkness of winter fast approaching, this portion's title, Vayechi -- which literally means "and he lived" -- signals the promise of life and fulfillment...

Music

Singer's 'Festival of Light' Tour Keeps the Celebration Rockin' On

By:

Deborah Hirsch

A 3-foot tall menorah burned, a gigantic mirrored dreidel spun overhead, and on stage, Matisyahu launched into a lilting reggae melody as a sold-out crowd of nearly 1,000 people roared with approval. The Chasidic singer's "Festival of Light" tour, held at the Theatre of the Living Arts on South Street, seemed the perfect excuse to usher in the last night...

Learning

On Death and Dying, and the Other Things Kids Tend to Ask About

By:

Sally Friedman, JE Feature

Is God a boy or a girl? What is a cemetery? Where do you go when you die? If you die, will you still love me? Isn't God supposed to make healthy people? Ah, the questions kids ask -- and the bewilderment their parents often face in answering them. That was the core focus of a forum last month at...

Torah

About Honest Speech and Collective Stories

VAYIGASH, Genesis 44:18-47:27

By:

Rabbi Danielle Stillman

Our experience tells us that talking things out leads to greater clarity and calm in difficult situations. This is the foundation of talk therapy; verbalizing what we are feeling or what happened to us to a listening ear brings us new insights. The impulse to tell our stories is everywhere -- in the memoirs on the bestseller lists and the...

Torah

It's About the Light Through Generations

By:

Rabbi Howard A. Addison

Chanukah is among the most widely celebrated of Jewish festivals. For eight nights, we light the menorah and praise God for the victories of our Maccabean ancestors over the forces of Antiochus centuries ago. We spin dreidels, eat latkes, and sing songs of heroism and thanks. The prime mitzvah of Chanukah is Pirsum Ha Nes -- publicizing the miracle of...