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(From left) the four members of Temple Mishkan Israel in Selma, Alabama: Hanna Berger, Ronnie Leet, Joanie Gibian Looney and Charles Pollack — stand in front of the Torah ark. (Photo/JTA-Amy Milligan)

Jewish World

Selma’s only synagogue has 4 members — but they have a plan for the future

Whenever the lone synagogue in Selma, Alabama, needs dusting, new lighting or vacuuming, Ronnie Leet is the one who does it. It’s tiring work — especially…
By JTA, Ben Sales Jul 8, 2019
a black and white woodcut of them tumbling into a huge ravine

Torah

When defying authority is morally and spiritually obligatory

The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek. Korach Numbers 16:1–18:32 The Book of Numbers is not always as colorful and…
By Rabbi Niles Elliot Goldstein Jul 5, 2019
Rabbi Mira Rivera of New York's Romemu congregation in her office (Photo/JTA-Josefin Dolsten)

Jewish World

Filipino-American dancer turned rabbi changing the conversation about Jews of color

There’s a small framed sign in Rabbi Mira Rivera’s office that reads “mizrach,” the Hebrew word for “east,” so she knows how to face Jerusalem when…
By JTA, Josefin Dolsten Jul 3, 2019
From “The Grapes of Canaan” by James Tissot, ca. 1900

Torah

Be cognizant of your fears, but don’t let them overpower you

The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek. Shelach Numbers 13:1–15:41 The Israelite spies were sent on a sacred mission…
By Rabbi Amy Eilberg Jun 27, 2019
A scene from this week's Torah portion, "The Gathering of the Manna" by James Tissot, ca. 1900

Torah

When a loved one is stressed — about school, wandering in the desert, etc. — just be present

The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek. Beha’alotecha Numbers 8:1-12:16 Pairings: Eve and Adam. Sarah and…
By Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan Jun 20, 2019
A mosaic in the synagogue of Enschede, Netherlands, shows the hand signal given by priests when they recite the Priestly Blessing, which is described un Naso, this week's Torah portion. (Photo/Wikimedia-Kleuske CC BY-SA 3.0)

Torah

Sweat the small stuff — or nothing at all

The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek. Naso Numbers 4:21-7:89 There is a remarkable midrash in which various sages…
By Rabbi Dov Greenberg Jun 13, 2019
Jewlia Eisenberg leads a song at the JeWitch Collective’s “Song of Songs Seder Celebrating Queer Sexuality” in the yurt at Urban Adamah in Berkeley, May 19. (Photo/David A.M. Wilensky)

Jew in the Pew

Magic, sex and blessings at an unconventional seder in Berkeley

The JeWitch Collective is exactly what it sounds like: a group of people who are connected to Jewish spirituality, magic-based practices or both. They…
By David A.M. Wilensky Jun 12, 2019
The imposing facade of a synagogue on Santiago, Chile (Photo/Wikimedia-Ignacio Falcon CC BY 1.0)

Mixed & Matched

My dad is 100% Jewish, but I’m scared to enter a synagogue

Dear Dawn: My father is 100 percent Jewish and my mother is Christian. They tried to have an interfaith wedding in the ’70s and the Jews wouldn’t accept…
By Dawn Kepler Jun 7, 2019
Shoshana, Yossi and Dan Fendel will teach at the East Bay JCC's Tikkun Leyl Shavuot

Shavuot

Three generations pulling Shavuot all-nighter in Berkeley

The all-night learning fest on Shavuot held at the JCC of the East Bay is a longtime favorite for Berkeley resident Yossi Fendel. He’s not even sure how…
By Maya Mirsky Jun 6, 2019
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