Opinion

From the Desk of the Federation Executive Director: With Gratitude 9/6/24

By Shelley Hubal

We walked to our cars after dinner and I simply asked, “How can I help?” Her response wasn’t simple at all. She said, “Just don’t forget me.” 

I knew that did not even scratch the surface. The parts unspoken were, “I have lost too many friends,” “I have …

In My Own Words: It’s just not funny

By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

I’ve been watching videos of “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update” hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost on my Facebook feed. The videos began to pop up after I read about Che and Jost exchanging jokes while a real-life rabbi sat at their desk, shaking her head at t…

In My Own Words: Anger and the election

By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

Before the 2016 election, I wrote that there was a great deal of anger in our country and that whoever became president needed to find a way to heal our increasingly polarized nation. Unfortunately, that did not happen. In fact, that anger has festered and become wo…

In My Own Words: Feed the children

By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap the corners of your field, nor should you gather the gleaning of your harvest. And you should not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the …

From the Desk of the Federation Executive Director: With Gratitude 7/26/24

By Shelley Hubal

It was only a short visit, but I noticed a few subtle indications that things were different this summer. Large posters with the distinctive “Bring Them Home Now” slogan hung outside the camp office. Israeli flags were flying all over the camp. Many of the campers and c…