Too many will sit in synagogues through this season and be equally concerned with their own economic situation as they will the state of their soul.
Having cancer has emboldened Kaufman in other ways, too — after her first surgery in 1999, she traveled to Israel for the first time.
United Jewish Communities has set up donation drive for hurricane victims
\”In general people from the West are in a special position to do something very positive for Israel,\” Berrin said. \”We can import some of our positive values and awareness. In this case, we want the average Israeli to know what\’s going on in Darfur and to care about it.\”
Even though I can readily explain the concept of the World to Come (\”Did you hear the one about the rabbi in heaven posted next to the blonde in the bikini?\”), eschatology isn\’t my really my strong point, and I\’m not sure it\’s the point of Judaism.
Realizing tikkun olam as a central pillar of Jewish practice, synagogues throughout the country require children to perform service projects before becoming b\’nai mitzvah, sensitizing them to their growing responsibilities toward others as they approach adulthood. In many cases, these projects have been the inspiration for ongoing philanthropic endeavors.
This is the second year The Jewish Journal has compiled a list of our \”Top Ten Mensches.\” Let other magazines slobber over the 50 Sexiest or the 400 Richest or the 20 Most Influential. Rich, sexy and powerful are easy. Mensch is hard.
For the past 20 years, Yoram Hassid, a 60-something financially successful general contractor, has been quietly helping scores of local Jews — in particular Iranian Jews — avoid the courtrooms, acting as an unpaid mediator in disputes over everything from multimillion dollar real estate deals to challenging family conflicts.
Rebecca Levinson grew up always doing things for the community.
\”This is what you do,\” the 17-year-old junior at North Hollywood\’s Oakwood School, said matter of factly.
Rosenfield started out collecting donations for one caseworker from the Department of Children and Family Service, and found she was so successful at motivating people to give that she adopted another caseworker a year later. Before long the former personnel manager had adopted the entire North Hollywood office.
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