Opinion

Opinions

Columns

Thorny Finances: Philadelphia Isn't Out of the Woods Yet

By:

Uri Monson

"Who graciously bestows favor as He has bestowed favor on me." This section of Birkat Hagomel -- the prayer said after someone has recovered from illness or avoided a catastrophe -- was probably on the minds of some in the city this past weekend, as it narrowly avoided the implementation of severe budget cuts. But before bensching Gomel, we need...

Columns

Shouldn't Religion in Israel Attempt to 'Wear' All the Colors of the Rainbow?

By:

Rabbi Andrew Sacks

As we begin the New Year, 5770, the Jewish community can only ponder what lies in store for Israel. Will this be a year free of war? Will we thrill to the long-awaited return of Gilad Shalit, the kidnapped Israel Defense Force soldier held in captivity by Hamas? Will the economy turn around? Will we be blessed by the arrival...

Columns

On Rosh Hashanah, Heed the Signs: 'Stay Alert, Stay Awake, Stay Alive'

By:

Jon Erlbaum

A man visiting a Jewish cemetery in a foreign town stumbles upon something quite unexpected. On each tombstone is etched not the date of the person's passing, but rather, the age of the individual when he or she left this world -- in years, months and days. Confused but intrigued, our traveler next notices that the ages of the departed...

Columns

Attention, Group Leaders: Guide by Virtues and Values

By:

David Teutsch

Oy, what a tough year to be a Jewish leader! Stock-market losses wreaked havoc with endowments and budgets, and fundraising challenges skyrocketed. Organizations directly or indirectly invested with Bernard Madoff faced even greater losses. Then came firings and slashing of programs, and news of rabbis involved in money-laundering and the selling of human organs. Under such conditions, what could leaders...

Kvetch 'N Kvell

Letters Week of Sept. 17, 2009

Need to End Hunger: It's Even More Crucial Now Before Rosh Hashanah, when we examine our deeds over the past year, there is one more thing we can do that will make a difference in the lives of poor and hungry Americans. Under the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, every five years, certain federal nutrition programs expire...