Yesterday, an Israeli friend of mine posted a photo of herself, her husband and her kids at JFK about to board a flight to Israel. She wasn’t going on vacation or to visit family. She was going to vote. Some of you might not know this, but Israel does not allow the general public to vote by absentee ballot. That right is reserved for diplomats and their families. So Israelis living abroad who want to vote do it the only way they can: they fly home, at their own expense. These

Indigenous People’s Day was also Rosh Hodesh Heshvan. Our sages call it mar Heshvan (bitter Heshvan from mar meaning bitter, as in maror, bitter herbs) because it’s the only month in the Hebrew calendar without a holiday. After the spiritual highs of the fall holidays, this can feel downright depressing.

By Cantor Melanie Cooperman Have you ever lit candles, sung a familiar tune, or sat at a seder and wondered why we do it this way? Or are you newer to Jewish life and looking for a welcoming place to begin? Join us for our Jewish Information Class, part of the Miller Introduction to Judaism curriculum. Over 14 sessions, we'll explore the Jewish story from Torah to the State of Israel, along with the festivals, Shabbat, the Days of Awe, theology, sacred texts, lifecycle celebr

Simchat Torah is bittersweet. We celebrate the end of the High Holiday season. We feel an immense sense of accomplishment, joy and gratitude for getting to this moment. We unroll the entire Torah and notice its loving embrace, reminding ourselves that the Torah itself begins and ends with acts of Gemilut Hasadim (loving kindness). Hopefully the Torah we learn and teach should help us become kinder, more generous, more empathic and willing to serve. So we dance and sing and ce

By Cantor Melanie Cooperman This Shabbat we begin to celebrate Sukkot — our harvest festival, a season the Torah commands us to mark with joy. V'samachta b'chagecha — "you shall rejoice in your festival" — we build our sukkot, gather the lulav and etrog, and give thanks for abundance. But, how do we rejoice fully when we know that right here in Westchester, so many of our neighbors go without enough to eat? Right here in Westchester, 39% of households are struggling to put f

by Rabbi Daniel Gropper "OUR SAGES TEACH: As soon as the fast of Yom Kippur concludes, pound the first nail into the sukkah! To everything there is a season—a time for prayer and looking inward, a time to go outside and build." This reading is found on page 661 of our Mahzor. It's one of my favorites for the simple reason that it looks past the holiday of Yom Kippur. It looks, with hopeful vision, to what comes after instead of remaining in the dread of the day. Stick with me

By Cantor Melanie Cooperman Rosh Hashanah is filled with memories for all of us — crisp fall days, the taste of apples and honey, and the sound of the shofar. We gather together for Tashlich to cast away the year that was. This year, Erev Rosh Hashanah falls on September 11th — the 25th anniversary of a day that conjures very different memories. Where were you when you heard the news? Who were you with? For so many — especially those who call New York home — that horrible mor