“I love when people sing along,” Noah Rosner reflected, in a heartfelt close to November’s Yedid Nefesh Friday Night Service. More than sixty voices sang the familiar melodies of Kabbalat Shabbat. The chapel brimmed with warmth and connection. Love was the theme of the evening, inspired by the first words of the opening prayer, which …
By Robin Jacobson. With 20/20 historical hindsight, it can be unbearable to read stories of European Jews in the 1930s who turned down opportunities to flee Europe. If only we could reach back in time and insist that they start packing. Tragically, they didn’t know then what we know now about the danger, destruction, and …
By Robin Jacobson. My pharmacist dad reveled in books about epic breakthroughs in medicine and science. On my bookshelf, I found his copy of The Double Helix (1968), a memoir by James Watson of his discovery with Francis Crick of the structure of DNA, a feat for which they won a Nobel Prize in 1962. This discovery …
By Robin Jacobson. Israeli author Omer Friedlander, only 28 years old, made a stunning entrance onto the literary stage this past spring. Big-name publisher Random House published his debut short story collection, The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land, and announced that it would also publish Friedlander’s upcoming novel. To add to the …
By Robin Jacobson. Early Shabbat morning, October 16, 1943, Nazi soldiers stormed Jewish neighborhoods in Rome, rounding up terrified Jews. They imprisoned them for two days in a military college near the Vatican before dispatching over 1,000 Jews to Auschwitz. Famously, Pope Pius XII made no protest. Two fascinating new books look at this moment in …
By Robin Jacobson. On October 6, 1973, air raid sirens shattered the solemn quiet of Yom Kippur afternoon in Israel. Egypt and Syria had launched a two-front surprise attack. Within a few days, Israeli casualties were skyrocketing, and the state had lost alarming numbers of planes and tanks. Fearing for Israel’s survival, Minister of Defense …
I lived in Jerusalem for Cantorial school in 2003 and let’s just say I love it. The sounds of calls to prayer, the sights of people walking to shul with their tallesim already on and the smells. I missed the smell of the place. The sweet smell of the culinary offerings along Emek Rfaim mixed …
By Robin Jacobson. As I write this, Ukraine remains under siege. News programs feature a nightly parade of diplomats, retired generals, and political historians speculating about a new global world order, comparing and contrasting today’s state of affairs with the Cold War period. For young people (ages 10-14) curious about the Cold War, three outstanding …
If I would have written this title a mere six months ago, many of you may have questioned my pairing of two entities that hold such polarizing places within us as Jews. For much of the past several centuries, Ukraine was a hotbed of antisemitism with Khmelnytsky as a revered folk hero. There is still …
By Robin Jacobson. Here are two unusual – and terrific – crime thrillers to jumpstart your summer. For a comic, warmhearted romp, try The Prison Minyan by Jonathan Stone. Want a darker, more complex tale? Read How to Find Your Way in the Dark by Derek Miller. The Prison Minyan This delightfully original, witty novel …
By Robin Jacobson. Every day, children benefit or suffer from their parents’ choices. Such is life, and such is the stuff of literature, especially when a parent’s options are radically shaped by societal upheaval. Two recent, thought-provoking novels trace the far-reaching consequences of parents’ choices during tumultuous times: More Than I Love My Life by …
This was the first Beth El Religious School retreat in two years, so it’s kind of a shame there aren’t too many pictures. (Shabbat) And since we went two years with no getaway, we decided to pack in 3 grades at once! The 4th/5th graders were in one residence at the end of the campgrounds …
Tomorrow is the beginning of Purim, and it could not come at a more somber time. Millions of people are fleeing the Ukraine and seeking shelter in Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, and even in Israel. The Joint Distribution committee has set up a full scale operation on the Polish border to help refugees escape …
By Robin Jacobson. When it comes to Passover children’s books, you could cover a Seder table many times over with wonderful choices. Here are five favorites, a mix of new and older titles, starting with ones for the youngest Pesach celebrants. Dayenu! A Favorite Passover Song by Miriam Latimer (ages 1 and up, 2012) This …
While Beth El already has a strong security culture , the recent hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas prompted us to do a full review of our protocols. We conducted an updated security survey in partnership with a private security contractor, a crisis management expert and former Israeli Defense Forces officer. They …
When I was about fifteen years old, my father took me to buy tefillin. An older teenage girl at my school showed me how to wrap tefillin one day at morning minyan. I can still remember that she taught each step with clarity and kindness: first, tightening the knot around my bicep; next, wrapping seven …
Inhabited for millennia, Israel sits atop layers upon layers of a rich, buried past – long irresistible to archaeologists. For a lively, colorful history of archaeological expeditions, read Under Jerusalem: The Buried History of the World’s Most Contested City by Andrew Lawler, an acclaimed science journalist. And then, for a fictional perspective on an archaeological …
I’ve never hosted a hot chocolate party before. It seems like it should be easy. You just take a few kumkum-hotpots full of water, then dump half a container of cocoa mix into the reservoir, and bada bing bada boom, hot chocolate coming out of the spout. Oops, but someone left a hotpot on “boil” …
By Robin Jacobson. The Jewish book world is celebrating a bumper crop of excellent nonfiction picture books for children. My three personal favorites are: Dear Mr. Dickens by Nancy Churnin, The Singer and the Scientist by Lisa Rose (both for ages 5-10), and No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon’s Battle for Women’s Rights in Japan by …
By Robin Jacobson. On Bloody Sunday – March 7, 1965 – Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel watched in horror as violent images from Selma, Alabama, flooded his TV screen. Police brutally beat black demonstrators marching in support of voting rights. Despite the danger, Heschel flew to Selma to join Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil …
By Robin Jacobson. Two new novels, Antiquities by Cynthia Ozick and The Vixen by Francine Prose, are well worth reading, even if they leave you shaking your head. Antiquities is a charming comedy-drama, but it is hard to make sense of it. In contrast, Vixen is easy to understand, but the novel is an eclectic …
We are excitedly preparing for Interfaith Thanksgiving this Tuesday, November 23, 7:30pm, at Bethesda United Methodist Church (BUMC). The evening will be filled with blessings of gratitude, teaching, and music. Last month, Rabbi Harris and I had the pleasure of meeting Rev. Dr. HiRho Park, the new Lead Pastor at BUMC. She is a warm …
The life of a shul is often one of the hiker who plans his traverse of a stream by picking the firmest looking stones. The year is long but filled with numerous stopping points to celebrate the milestones of of our community and of course, the Jewish holidays. Whenever someone asks me “what’s new at …
This week, I gathered with our affinity group for attorneys. Thirty-five of us began our morning with Talmud study. What better way to begin a day? We learned a section from Tractate Nedarim that permits taking false vows (under certain circumstances) to murderers, robbers, or tax collectors. One rabbi objects, based on the halakhic concept …
Babble-and a concert invite! “The same thing happened to us in advanced English!” Dafna- Age 11 We were waiting for the bus and my daughter was discussing the previous day’s early dismissal with a neighbor’s daughter due to that “storm” that never came. She didn’t feel any compunction about mentioning her class’ advanced moniker and …
In 1953, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg went to their deaths in New York’s infamous Sing Sing prison, convicted of conspiring to commit espionage for the Soviet Union. Ethel’s execution was particularly horrific. After a first session in the electric chair failed to kill her, jailers strapped her back in to be electrocuted again. The executions …
I’m not a crier. But I remember the first anniversary was an emotional one. I was living in an apartment just a block from my old dorm, and I had the news switched on that morning, September 11, 2002. The music, patriotic and colored with sadness, soared behind a picture of an American flag as …
By Robin Jacobson. To Edmund de Waal, world-renowned ceramic artist and award-winning author, art objects are never just objects. They carry history, memories, and an uncanny power to stir emotion and action. As recounted in de Waal’s international bestseller, The Hare with the Amber Eyes, an inheritance of Japanese figurines – netsuke – launched de …
As many of you know, Sarah and I recently returned from an anniversary trip to Paris. Our 15th anniversary finally prompted us to visit the city of light, as its always been one of Sarah’s favorite places, not least of which because her birthday is on July 14th, Bastille day. When you’re only in Paris …
It has been a wonderful first week with Rabbi Deborah Megdal at shul. She only began this past Monday but has already been involved in countless Zoom meetings, informal coffees and introductions, and working with our incredible staff and leaders. Watch this video and we hope to see you at shul soon! Shabbat Shalom
By Robin Jacobson. If you catch yourself or see your child obsessively checking digital devices for messages, or living much of life online, M.I.T. Professor Sherry Turkle has some advice. Fortunately, it is not “get rid of the phone!” This renowned expert on digital culture will visit via Zoom on Sunday, October 3, at 4:30 …
When I was in high school, my history teacher taught us American civics, government, and all about our justice system. One particular class sticks out in my mind. It was typical in this advanced history class, for us to participate in class discussions, debating topics of the day and also various struggles of the American …
By Robin Jacobson. Historical fiction inhabits the sweet spot between history and fiction. It invites us to journey to the past and then return to our own time with new insights. For young readers (and for adventurous parents who are game for a “family book club”😊), here are three terrific, recently published historical novels. Set …
If we are ‘friends’ on Facebook, you have seen my video updates from Israel. (Click here to get to my FB page for the messages.) This week, I participated in a solidarity mission to Israel led by Gil Preuss, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. Eight rabbis from the area cleared our …
You’ve seen the video, read the devastating reports and felt the grievance that the Jews under rocket fire seem to matter infinitely less to our media than the innocents in Gaza. It feels like every time that Israel is in the news, they are aggressor, the promulgator, the instigator and the occupier. It’s not quite …
We used to visit Disneyland frequently. My parents grew up in Southern California so family trips from the San Francisco Bay Area were common. Here we are, probably 45 years ago, on a rollercoaster – my mom, me, my cousin Melanie, and my big sister in the front seat of the car. Looking at family …
This is the fifth week of the month. For Reflections Off the Bimah, the fifth week is a bonus and features thought leaders from throughout the Jewish world and beyond. These special posts give you the opportunity to consider important opinions you may not readily encounter. Thursday night / Friday is the 33rd day of …
This is the fourth week of the month. For Reflections Off the Bimah, the fourth week features thought leaders from throughout the Jewish world and beyond. These special posts give you the opportunity to consider important opinions you may not readily encounter. In the wake of the conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin, this blog …
Israel is 73 One of my favorite Israeli broadcast channels is Can 11. They feature intimate interviews with trauma survivors, historical and cultural analyses of holidays such as Pesach and Hannukah. And they have great dramas and comedies as well. Plus you can watch full episodes of their content with Hebrew subtitles, which helps …
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