News & Updates

Avital Ingber, Zach Briton, Jeff Distenfeld, Norm Pozez and Jeff Rum recently returned from the FRD Leadership Mission to Kiev, Ukraine and Israel. below are notes from Zach and Avital written during their travels, reflecting on this meaningful opportunity to see the impact of our work firsthand. From Zach Briton: Ukraine is home to the

In this week’s parasha, Beha’alotecha, the Israelites—after being in the wilderness for what seems like an eternity—are hungry, thirsty and uncertain about whether they will ever reach the Promised Land. They criticize Moses and Aaron’s leadership. They even wonder out loud if they were not better off as slaves in Egypt. And finally, we read, “The

This week’s portion, the first in the Book of Numbers, is called Bamidbar. The English title of this book comes from the census taken of the Israelites as commanded to Moses in this parasha. In Hebrew, the portion’s title means “in the wilderness,” an apt description of the spiritual and physical place in which the Jews

This week’s double parasha, Behar-Bechukotai, finishes up the Book of Leviticus. We are told repeatedly of the choice between following God’s commandments and disobeying. With the former, we will live well; the latter choice will lead to disaster. Some reject the notion of cause and effect in following the commandments and their lot in life. After all,

More than 175 years ago, Scottish-born philosopher Thomas Carlyle published “Heroes and Hero Worship,” a set of lectures he gave in 1840, arguing that individuals, not history per se, are the real reasons for human advancement. These specific individuals, whom Carlyle called “Heroes,” played outsized roles in the world’s advancement. Heroism – and hero worship

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” – C.S. Lewis This week’s parasha, Tetzaveh, is distinguished not by what it contains, but rather, what it omits. Interestingly, Moses’ name appears in every parasha chronicling his life from birth to death – except for this week’s portion. Commentators reflect on a

“When the world is divided, let us do the opposite thing and show that we are united.” – Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks In the wake of anti-Semitic acts across the nation – as recently as this week in our community – we must remain alert, aware and vigilant. We will not permit hateful voices to

This week’s parasha, Mishpatim, begins with ve’eleh hamishpatim (AND these are the rules). In last week’s Torah portion, the Children of Israel received The Ten Commandments, the first of the laws of the covenant between God and Israel. More of these laws are presented this week and are collectively known as “The Book of the Covenant.”

This week’s parasha is Yitro, named after Moses’ father-in-law (one of only six Torah portions named after a central character). The portion contains powerful Cecil B. DeMille-like imagery, including thunder, lightning and the Ten Commandments. It also contains a less compelling – though equally important – lesson taught to Moses by Yitro, who helps Moses

This article was originally published in The Forward. By Lisa Handelman, Federation’s Community Disability Inclusion Specialist Judaism values inclusion. Yet, according to a study conducted in 2013 by RespectAbilityUSA and JerusalemU, most American Jews with disabilities feel excluded from their own gathering places. National Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), created in 2009, was