Opinion

In My Own Words: Music and noise

By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

I have a music rotation on Youtube that I listen to while I’m working. For most people, that wouldn’t sound like anything special, but as someone who couldn’t listen to music for 15 years, it feels amazing. But I’m not always successful in hearing music as m…

In My Own Words: Happiness, according to Adam Gopnik

By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

Years ago, I developed my own definition of happiness. The reason behind defining the term was that, at that time, many people were talking about their search for happiness, as if happiness were some object they could find if they only looked hard enough. For me, ha…

From the Desk of the Federation Executive Director: With Gratitude 4/19/24

By Shelley Hubal

One-hundred-ninety-eight days. If, God forbid, the hostages are not freed by the first night of Passover, it will mark 198 days since their torture and captivity began. The hostages include young men and women with their whole lives in front of them, a baby, innocent childr…

Antisemitism redefined

By Bill Simons 

It is a wonderful photo, capturing the exuberance and promise of young women. Their evident confidence announces a readiness to embark on life’s adventures. Possessed of expressive brown eyes and a Mona Lisa smile, Jannat, situated in the forefront, aspires to teach media…

In My Own Words: Never retire?

By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

“Whether it’s a conservative pundit saying retirement “is a stupid idea” or GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump talking about cutting Medicare and Social Security, one thing is clear: Republicans rightly recognize that all us Americans would be better of…