By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Recent events have left me puzzling the connections between several things that, at first, may not seem connected. They are the results of the U.S. House Ethics Committee’s report on former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, the increasing restrictions being placed o…
By Shelley Hubal
Generosity of time, attention, talent or resources: there are many special ways to give. As Federation director, I am lucky to witness acts of generosity with frequency.
Because of its dedicated Board of Directors and Executive Committee, many of whom have been giving gene…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
The USA Today headline said, “Subway killing divides country.” The article announced the acquittal of Daniel Penny. For those unaware of the trial, Penny was found not guilty of the killing of Jordan Neely, an unhoused person who suffered from mental illness. Th…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
I have what some might consider an unusual quirk when meeting someone new at my synagogue: I never ask them what they do for a living. While I’m more than happy to learn about their work/career if they are interested in talking about it, in the context of the sy…
By Bill Simons
“But is it good for the Jews?” I am uneasy when that phrase is referenced concerning American politics. It feeds the canard about a powerful, secretive, international Jewish cabal. Making identity politics central is divisive, corrosive to the vital center. Although Jews …
