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Category: Learning
What is feminist Torah and how do we do it?
Feminist Torah is an approach to how we relate to Torah and a set of commitments about which Torah to draw from in our teaching ...
Rabbi Avigayil Halpern
December 2, 2024
Community
Inclusion
“Peace is Great!” A Challenging Jewish Teaching
Achieving true peace here on earth is a tremendous task which we can fully accomplish only when we have God pushing us to do so.
Rabbi Dan Ornstein
November 24, 2024
Derekh Eretz Zuta
Ideas
The Dignity of Self-Definition
We can choose, in our relationships, to see others as if through G-d’s eyes. This helps us be less alone and to see one another's ...
Alex Friedman
November 15, 2024
JTS Senior Sermon
Learning
Fat Liberation in Gan Eden
God created humans with naked bodies and no shame. Now, we live in a world that wants us to forget that we were made in ...
Rebecca Galin
November 14, 2024
JTS Senior Sermon
Learning
Our Proselytizing Ancestors: Three Tools for Holding Conviction in Mixed Company
Sasson Brown, RS '25, speaks on the unexpected act of Abraham and Sarah's proselytizing and the lessons we can learn from it.
Sassoon Brown
November 8, 2024
JTS Senior Sermon
Learning
How to Get the Get (A Jewish Divorce) and Why It Matters
The Get or “decree of divorce,” plays a fundamental role in the Jewish life cycle of a couple whose marriage has come to an end ...
Daniela Rusowsky
November 3, 2024
Divorce
Halakhah
Tanakh Yomi: The Beauty Of Daily Study
Every person’s study experience with Tanakh is simultaneously unique and unifying. May we all learn and grow together in the days to come.
Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein
,
Efrem L. Epstein
October 22, 2024
Every Day
Learning
A Talmudic Reading Of The High Holiday Prayer Un’taneh Tokef
Un'taneh Tokef: What makes this prayer so attractive? Could it be the poignant question, “Who will live and who will die?”
Dr. Judith Hauptman
September 23, 2024
High Holidays
Holidays
Reflections on Death (1973)
Heschel writes in 1973 in "Reflections on Death": Life here and now is the task. Every moment can be an achievement.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
September 22, 2024
CJ Journal - 1945-1959
Confronting Death
Introduction to the Kaddish: For Those who Died in the Israeli War (1957)
Written by S.Y. Agnon in the Conservative Judaism Journal for those who died in the War of 1948, these words are especially fitting today.
Shmuel Yosef Agnon
September 20, 2024
CJ Journal - 1945-1959
Conservative Judaism Journal
?כיצד ראוי לחגוג את שמחת תורה בשנת תשפ״ה
חווינו אחד מן האסונות הגדולים ביותר בתולדות המדינה, ומאז, כיצד ראוי לחגוג את שמחת תורה בשנת תשפ״ה?
Rabbi David Golinkin
September 20, 2024
Halakhah
High Holidays
How to Appropriately Celebrate Simchat Torah in 5785
With the ongoing tragedy of October 7th and the ongoing hostage situation and war, how do we appropriately celebrate Simchat Torah in 5785?
Rabbi David Golinkin
September 20, 2024
Halakhah
High Holidays
High Holiday Liturgy: Making Meaning from the Metaphors for God
By understanding the nuance of Divine justice, we are given a powerful model for healthier relationships in the human realm.
Rabbi Amalya Volz
September 18, 2024
High Holidays
Holidays
How To Live A Morally Good Life
The moral life, with its choices, its responsibilities, its missteps, and its modes of repair, is an integral part of what it means to be ...
Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, Ph.D.
September 17, 2024
Ethics
High Holidays
How To Get Religious Accommodations At Work
Want to know your rights as a Jew in the workplace? Need religious accommodations? Find out what your rights are and how to exercise them.
Andrew J. Horowitz, Partner at Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP
September 9, 2024
Elul
Government
Why We Study Mishnah To Grieve Someone Who Has Died
There is a custom of learning and reciting chapters of Mishnah as part of the mourning process. Where does this come from? How does this ...
Rabbi Jeremy Markiz
,
Exploring Judaism
September 3, 2024
Death and Dying
Learning
Medieval Musings on the Emotional Content of a Fast
Can we do work and labor on Tisha B'av? What role do our emotions play in that? The Medieval posek Terumat HaDeshen has an answer.
Rabbi Aaron Alexander
July 31, 2024
Fasting on Tisha B'av
Halakhah
Why Conservative Judaism Changed Sacrifices in the Prayer Book
Explore why Conservative Judaism changed the language of the sacrifices in the prayer book. It shows more about the Movement.
Rabbi Jeremy Markiz
July 23, 2024
Conservative Judaism
Every Day
On Changes in Judaism (1845)
Rabbi Zecharias Frankel in 1845 explores the nature of Judaism as it faces progress and highlights the nature of change in Judaism.
Rabbi Zecharias Frankel z''l
July 17, 2024
Conservative Judaism
Core Conservative Judaism Ideas
Are Non-Kosher Animals Permitted for Organ Transplants?
Are non-kosher animals permitted for organ transplants? Rabbi Shai Cherry explains the recent teshuvah from the CJLS.
Rav Shai Cherry
July 10, 2024
Animals
CJLS
The Jewish Status of a Child Born Using a Gestational Carrier
In a recent teshuvah, the CJLS answers the question, "what is the Jewish status of a child born using a gestational carrier?"
Jessica Chod
July 5, 2024
Child Birth
CJLS
Democracy in Post-Biblical Judaism (1948)
Rabbi Greenberg writes, many ideas matured in rabbinic thought, particularly "group of ethical values usually associated with the concept of Democracy."
Rabbi Simon Greenberg z''l
July 2, 2024
CJ Journal - 1945-1959
Conservative Judaism
The Biblical Basis of Democracy (1948)
Rabbi Gordis writes, "the main current of Biblical thought and Jewish tradition is fundamentally democratic..."
Rabbi Robert Gordis z''l
July 2, 2024
CJ Journal - 1945-1959
Conservative Judaism
Tisha Be-Av In Rome, Under the Arch of Titus (1949)
Rabbi Abramowitz z''l: "...Tish'a be-Av amid the ruins of the Roman Empire [was] fraught with inner meaning and significance...in 1948"
Rabbi Meyer Abramowitz z''l
June 30, 2024
CJ Journal - 1945-1959
Conservative Judaism Journal
Marriage As Mitzvah
Jews see marriage as mitzvah based on biblical and rabbinic texts. Marriage is seen as important for spirituality and closeness with God.
Rabbi Carl Astor
,
The Observant Life (Book)
June 26, 2024
Learning
Lifecycles
Shabbat for Jewish Pets and Their Owners
Here are a few tips to celebrate Shabbat for Jewish pets and their owners and how to enhance your family's Shabbat experience.
Rabbi Alex Hamilton
June 19, 2024
Animals
Daily Living
Shavuot 5784: Tiny Tikkun
Shavuot is often considered a holiday of converts. Our Tiny Tikkun collects some texts on conversion to study with a friend or on your own.
Exploring Judaism
May 30, 2024
Conversion
Holidays
Common Terms in Torah Study
The Exploring Judaism team has prepared this printable sheet of common terms you might encounter in your Torah study that might help you out.
Exploring Judaism
May 24, 2024
Holidays
Learning
Temple Envy
This an exploration of my "temple envy" through the emotions of grief, wonder, and desire for Jewish unity during a recent vacation to Nikko.
Rabbi Alex Hamilton
May 22, 2024
Every Day
Holidays
Ten Torah Resources You Should Know
Here are our top ten Torah resources you should know, including Conservative/Masorti organizations and resources for kids and families!
Reena Bromberg Gaber
May 15, 2024
Holidays
Learning
Yom Ha-Atzma’ut: Sow With Tears, Reap with Joy
Yom Ha-Atzma’ut in 2024, as in 1948, is a time of rejoicing and weeping. Just as then, today, too, we have much work ahead.
Rabbi Chaya Rowen Baker
May 9, 2024
Holidays
Torat HaShaah
What blessing do I recite over an eclipse?
A solar eclipse is certainly a unique natural event that causes us to ponder our place in the universe. What blessing do I recite?
Exploring Judaism
April 4, 2024
Blessings
CJLS
On Relationships with God and Other Human Beings
Ilana Sandberg (JTS RS '24) explores parashat Ki Tisa and speaks on relationships with God and other human beings.
Ilana Sandberg
February 29, 2024
JTS Senior Sermon
Learning
The Torah of Disorienting Moments
Talia Kaplan (JTS RS '24) explores parashat Mishpatim and the Torah of disorienting moments, reflecting on her rabbinical school experience.
Rabbi Talia Kaplan
February 7, 2024
JTS Senior Sermon
Learning
Binding Love and Loss
Amalya Volz (JTS RS '24) explores Parashat Yitro through the binding of love and loss and the people of Israel's relationship with God.
Rabbi Amalya Volz
February 1, 2024
JTS Senior Sermon
Learning
Charlton Heston Speaking
We can learn about leadership from Moses, as well as from Charlton Heston speaking, as he plays Moses in the Ten Commandments movie.
David Harrison
January 31, 2024
Holidays
Learning
The Mitzvah of Environmental Sustainability
What does Judaism say about environmental sustainability? Yishuv Ha'olam is the mitzvah to build and maintain a sustainable world.
Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin
January 3, 2024
CJLS
Climate and Environment
Women and Headcovering
In a written teshuvah, Rabbi Jane Kanarek explains the answer to the question, "Should women and girls wear a headcovering?"
Reena Bromberg Gaber
January 3, 2024
CJLS
Halakhah
Tallit on the Bimah: Optional or Required?
This CJLS teshuva explores where and when a tallit should be worn on the bimah. This also addresses women wearing tallitot.
Reena Bromberg Gaber
January 3, 2024
Accessories for Prayer
CJLS
How to Write a D’var Torah
There are many ways to write a d'var Torah. Read how this rabbi thinks about giving divrei Torah and what she thinks about while writing.
Rabbi Sydni Adler Rubinstein
December 26, 2023
Every Day
Learning
A Conservative Jew in Jerusalem
What is it like being a Conservative Jew in Jerusalem and how do we understand the holiness of the holiest place in the world?
Emily Jaeger
December 26, 2023
Conservative Judaism
Israel
Ani Ma’amin: Conservative Judaism as a Dynamic Force
Rabbi Artson shares his "Ani Ma'amin," the credo that he recites every day as he things about Conservative Judaism as a dynamic force.
Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson
December 19, 2023
Blessings
Conservative Judaism
What does Judaism say about Abortion?
An overview of what Judaism says about abortion based on the decisions and analysis of the Rabbinical Assembly.
Rabbi Susan Grossman
,
Rabbi Avram Israel Reisner
December 10, 2023
CJLS
Halakhah
Elevating the Matriarchs, and the Women, in Judaism
Elevating the Matriarchs is important. Rabbi Goodman encourages this with a midrash on Parashat Shemini, urging that representation matters.
Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman
December 6, 2023
Inclusion
Learning
Finding Quiet Solace in a Stormy World
Caleb Brommer, RS '24, speaks on finding quiet solace in a stormy world, for his JTS senior sermon, on Parashat Vayishlach.
Caleb Brommer
November 30, 2023
JTS Senior Sermon
Learning
Psalms for this Time of Crisis in Israel
Seven psalms as a liturgical response to our individual and collective emotions, including grief, fear, rage, desperation, and others.
Rabbinical Assembly
October 19, 2023
Hebrew Bible
Israel
Violence in Israel: Self-Care and Mental Health
The bombing at Hebrew University was a transition moment in my life. I got by for about a month and then started to break down. ...
Rabbi Mordechai Rackover
October 9, 2023
Interpersonal Interactions
Israel
Non-Fasting Sh”tz on Yom Kippur
When should we use a non-fasting sh"tz on Yom Kippur? This CJLS teshuvah, originally written by Rabbi Gail Labovitz, explains.
Reena Bromberg Gaber
September 28, 2023
CJLS
Halakhah
Remembering Our Loved Ones Before Us
When our loved ones die, who remembers those they remembered? Here's a way to remember all of those that came before us.
Rabbi Miriam T. Spitzer
September 21, 2023
Death and Dying
Family
Halakha and the Assessment of Risk
Halakha can be used for the assessment of risk; this can be relevant for pikuach nefesh (saving a life) or kashrut.
Rabbi Avram Israel Reisner
September 7, 2023
Ethics
Every Day
Deja Jew, or, Asking the Question Yet Again: Why Be Jewish?
Dig deeper into Jewish identity, memory, spirituality, and wisdom, exploring more into the question: "Why Be Jewish?"
Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson
August 13, 2023
Daily Living
Embodied Prayer
Distinctive Emphasis in Conservative Judaism: Vis-a-Vis the Halakha (1952)
Rabbi Max L. Forman z"' wrote: "the formulation of a dynamic approach to Jewish law; not to a corpus or platform, but to a methodology."
Rabbi Max Leon Forman z"l
June 29, 2023
CJ Journal - 1945-1959
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism as a Unifying Force (1949)
Rabbi Max Arzt z"l wrote, "Its realistic and reverential attitude to tradition is animated by a profound concern for Jewish unity..."
Rabbi Max Arzt z"l
June 28, 2023
CJ Journal - 1945-1959
Conservative Judaism
Shlach Lecha: Learning Inclusion from the Scouts
As God commanded Moses to include Caleb and Joshua, we can imagine the same command applies to us. We can seek to include people.
Hazzan Sara Geffen Geller
June 16, 2023
Inclusion
Parashat Shlach
The Textual Foundations of Honoring One’s Parents
The Rabbis explain that honoring one’s parents is to be understood essentially as an act of worshiping God.
Rabbi Daniel Nevins
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 31, 2023
Family
Learning
Jewish Obligations of Parents to Children
When speaking about family, there is a wide variety of opinions and also a variety of obligations of parents, situations and relationships.
Rabbi Daniel Nevins
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 30, 2023
Family
Halakhah
Ethical Approaches to Advertising: A Jewish Perspective
The responsibility of sellers to enact ethical advertising of their products is equal to, if not greater than that of the careful consumer.
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 25, 2023
Business Ethics
Commerce
A Jewish Lens on Investing and Gambling
What special ethical concerns arise as the distinction between company owners and customers is blurred by equity investment?
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 25, 2023
Business Ethics
Commerce
Talmudic Discussions on Monopolies
Where a monopoly offers a clear benefit to consumers, Jewish tradition does sanction them on a closely regulated basis.
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 24, 2023
Business Ethics
Commerce
Honesty in Business
The laws that govern commerce aim to prevent the unscrupulous transfer of property or money from its rightful possessor to another person.
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 24, 2023
Business Ethics
Commerce
Shopping Intentions as an Ethical Consumer
Customers share in the responsibility for ensuring that transactions are fair, and should be upfront about their intentions as consumers.
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 24, 2023
Business Ethics
Commerce
Fair Prices: A Jewish Perspective
The Mishnah defines the fair price of an item, such that the seller earn a fair price, while not defrauding the buyer.
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 24, 2023
Business Ethics
Commerce
Commerce and Competition in Jewish Law
The Talmud sets a limited precedent for free market competition by balancing the rights of merchants with the interests of consumers.
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 24, 2023
Business Ethics
Commerce
Ethical Fundraising: A Jewish Perspective
Are bingo and more serious forms of gambling allowed to raise funds for synagogues and other Jewish institutions?
Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, Ph.D.
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 24, 2023
Charity
Ethical Fundraising
Three Types of Prohibited Speech According to Jewish Law
It is largely agreed upon that the types of speech encompassed by the biblical prohibition fall into three categories of increasing severity.
The Observant Life (Book)
May 19, 2023
Every Day
Human interactions
When Does Jewish Law Say We Are Permitted to Talk About Others
Lashon hara I’to·elet are those occasions when it is permissible, or even required, to speak about other people.
The Observant Life (Book)
May 18, 2023
Ethics
Inclusion
Biblical Texts Addressing Gossip
Human beings have been given the divine power of speech to enable our participation in the ongoing work of sustaining God’s creation.
The Observant Life (Book)
May 18, 2023
Ethics
Inclusion
Does Prohibited Speech Apply to the Internet?
As online communication becomes more complicated and sophisticated, so too do the laws governing defamatory speech.
The Observant Life (Book)
May 18, 2023
Ethics
Inclusion
A New Egalitarian Divorce
Rabbi Barmash's new teshuvah empowers women and infuses the rites of marriage and divorce with more equality and dignity for both partners.
Rabbi Deborah Megdal
May 8, 2023
CJLS
Divorce
When Using Tribal Distinctions, How Might Women Be Called Up for Aliyot?
While writing a teshuvah on changing our language for aliyot to kohenet from bat kohen, Rabbi David J Fine, PhD, reflects on egalitarianism.
Rabbi David J Fine, PhD
April 30, 2023
Blessings
CJLS
Mujaddara on Passover
How my family created and passed down cultural traditions, and how the Conservative Teshuvah on Kitniyot impacts our life outside the academy.
Emily Jaeger
March 19, 2023
Food
Halakhah
Why Is Diversity Important at the Passover Seder?
This is why I think my family's tradition of inviting a non-Jew each year to the Passover seder is important.
Emily Jaeger
March 19, 2023
Holidays
How to observe Passover
When Can a Passover Seder Start Early? Other Festivals?
When is the earliest time that we can begin observing Jewish festivals, on first or second day of Yom Tov, in particular, the Passover seder?
Exploring Judaism
March 19, 2023
CJLS
Halakhah
What Does Jewish Law Say About Autopsies and Organ Donation?
The halakhah does not generally permit autopsies, due to honoring the dead. However, there are two important exceptions to that rule.
Rabbi Carl Astor
,
The Observant Life (Book)
February 28, 2023
Confronting Death
Death and Dying
Is Alcohol the best way to celebrate Purim?
According to a well-known custom, drinking – and drinking to excess – on Purim is required for Jews celebrating the holiday. What is the origin ...
Rabbi David Golinkin
,
The Schechter Institutes
February 5, 2023
Halakhah
Learning
Life Exists in Relation
If we try to look past the tangible, if we focus on the other, in relationship, we can come to see the Divine, even if ...
Ariel Ya’akov Dunat (they/them)
January 27, 2023
Every Day
Learning
What is the Jewish Afterlife?
What does Judaism say about the afterlife? Exploring the inherent conflicts between the different ideas and why that's a good thing.
Emily Jaeger
December 25, 2022
Death and Dying
Every Day
The Risks of Playing Jewish Geography
In the game of Jewish geography, you connect with who you don’t know by connecting through who you do know. But is the game good ...
Rabbi Susan Leider
November 17, 2022
Community
Every Day
How to call Non-Binary Jews to the Torah
Being called to Torah is a moment of sacred encounter. Here's how to call Non-Binary Jews to the Torah based on the CJLS Teshuvah in ...
Rabbi Deborah Silver
August 1, 2022
CJLS
Halakhah
The Biblical Sources and Context for Tzedakah
The Torah provides many examples and legal provisions which are the foundation of our understanding of tzedakah.
The Observant Life (Book)
,
Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, Ph.D.
June 29, 2022
Every Day
Hebrew Bible
Expanding Our Embrace: A Reflection on Inclusion
Linda Sussman reflects on the story of her journey and the lessons about inclusion she learned along the way.
Linda Sussman
June 21, 2022
Inclusion
Learning
A Contemporary Understanding of Mitzvot
Rabbi Bradley Artson explains how Mitzvot function as an indispensable manifestation of a meaningful Jewish life.
Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson
June 21, 2022
Learning
Mitzvot
Why You Should Host a Pride Shabbat
Aimee Close shares her story of becoming a synagogue member and the power and importance of Pride Shabbat and being welcoming.
Aimee Close
June 7, 2022
Inclusion
LGBTQ+
What are Kitniyot and when can I eat it?
In the early medieval period, it became customary for Ashkenazi Jews to not eat a category of foods called kitniyot. What are they?
Exploring Judaism
March 31, 2022
CJLS
Halakhah