fbpx
Picture of Ben Harris

Ben Harris

Chanukah — it’s not just about a miracle anymore

One of the Jewish calendar\’s most widespread and public observances, the Chanukah holiday has traditionally emphasized two miracles: the military victory of Jewish rebels over Greek invaders and the one vial of oil that lasted for eight nights. However, just as other holidays have seen their historic purpose shaped to contemporary narratives, Chanukah is increasingly being used as a vehicle for other Jewish agendas that seem to stray far from the holiday\’s original meaning.

New Conservative seminary leader outlines goals

\”Numbers don\’t keep me up at night; Israel keeps me up at night,\” Eisen said. \”I\’m worried about the security of Israel, and I\’m worried about the apparent decline in attachment on the part of American Jews to Israel. This literally, from time to time, keeps me up at night.\”

Orthodox feminists make little progress on agunot

The rhetoric on agunot contrasted sharply from that on other topics at the conference, where a sense of confidence bordering on the triumphant prevailed, owing to the substantial progress made in the decade since JOFA\’s founding.

Bay Area takes on ‘progressive’ anti-Semitism

While much attention has been paid to the so-called \”new anti-Semitism,\” in which antipathy toward Jews is masked as rabid criticism of Israel, the Finding Our Voice conference represents the first organized effort by liberal Jews to fight back.

Conservative rabbis open doors to gays, sort of

With the endorsement Wednesday of three conflicting teshuvot, or halachic responsa, by the movement\’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards — two upholding the longstanding ban on homosexuality and one permitting ordination of gay rabbis and commitment ceremonies — it\’s likely that other rabbis will now begin performing such ceremonies, comfortable in the knowledge that they enjoy halachic sanction from the movement\’s highest legal body.

Reconstructionists try to manage growth

When Dorshei Tzedek, a small Reconstructionist congregation in West Newton, Mass., began an explosive growth spurt in 1997, some of its members were concerned.

[authorpage]

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.