Opinion

In My Own Words: Rediscovering music of the past by Rabbi Rachel Esserman

Without her voice, I don’t know if I would have made it through high school. That’s not totally accurate: it was both her music and lyrics combined with that awesome voice that made it possible. But I do remember the very first time I heard her sing. I bought her album after looking at i…

From the Desk of the Federation Executive Director: With gratitude 10/9

Socially distant, but spiritually connected: that is the theme of this year’s Annual Campaign. In choosing a theme, we knew the landscape of COVID would have to be acknowledged. We have all heard these sound bites recently: “we are all in this together” and “this is an unprecedented …

Off the Shelf: Outsiders of the shtetl by Rabbi Rachel Esserman

An idealized view of the shtetl used to exist in the American mind – a wonderful place, filled with happy, observant Jews who lived joyous Jewish lives. Over the past several decades, scholars have been disputing that view, showing that shtetl life was more complex and far from perfect. A …

Off the Shelf: Women’s roles and history by Rabbi Rachel Esserman

Ever wonder what would happen if characters from different novels were to meet? In the case of those featured in this review, there would be arguments about the role women should play in public and private life. However, that is not their only purpose: the authors also portray Jewish life in…

In My Own Words: Anger by Rabbi Rachel Esserman

There is an enormous amount of anger boiling across the United States. Some people are angry at what they see as restrictions on their rights to act, think or behave as they wish. Others are angry because they don’t believe they have the same protection under the law due to their skin colo…