By Susan Walker
The Jewish Community Center has been a safe harbor for our family since my husband Mark and I moved to Vestal just over 40 years ago. ( I know, how did that happen.) Within the Center’s walls, we have formed lasting friendships and an unbreakable bond to this community.
Af…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
I fell for it, which is not the first time something like this has happened. It was hard to ignore because of the numerous news reports on the web: President Donald Trump was telling our military to prepare for war with Nigeria. My first reaction was, “Why would w…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
A column about beards? That might strike people as an odd topic. No, I’m not going to write about my personal preferences for different types of beards (although I do have them). But what I normally think of as a personal choice for men has become a political issu…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
This is the season of teshuvah, when we repent and pray that God will forgive us our sins. Just as we hope to be forgiven, so, too, are we asked to forgive those who have done us harm. That is not just a religious value: it’s a mental health one. Focusing on the h…
By Shelley Hubal
Is it possible to do something simple and have the impact be profound? The answer is, yes. Recently, the students at Hillel Academy did exactly that.
These young students created beautiful, cheerful Rosh Hashanah cards for Jewish Family Service. These special cards – de…
