Category: Inclusion

The Jewish Values of DEI

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we learn from Dr. King and Jewish texts how DEI and Jewish values cross over.
January 18, 2026 Ethics Every Day

“Diversity,” “Equity,” and “Inclusion” in MLK’s Words and in Jewish Thought

Open any newspaper, or click on any online news site, and, virtually every day, you will find descriptions of “DEI” as an extremely harmful phenomenon. ...
January 18, 2026 Ethics Inclusion

Jewish Trauma: Antisemitism in Birmingham, AL

Antisemitism is a charged word these days. Like many charged words, it means different things to different people. When I was a child growing up ...
January 12, 2026 Interpersonal Interactions
Doorpost Missing Mezuzah

Was Korach So Bad?

There are rebels in the Torah. There were rebels against the cultures and norms of the time. Avraham and Sarah rejected polytheism, Yehoshua and Caleb ...
June 27, 2025 Inclusion LGBTQ+
Pink Pin Hebrew Female

Hebrew Pronoun Pins: Pinpointing the Why

Why are pronoun pins helpful and why did we make these Hebrew pins? How might they create more welcoming Jewish spaces?
June 26, 2025 Inclusion LGBTQ+
What is feminist Torah and how do we do it?

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 ...
December 2, 2024 Community Inclusion
Temple Envy

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.
May 22, 2024 Every Day Holidays
Elevating the Matriarchs, and the Women, in Judaism

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.
December 6, 2023 Inclusion Learning
Violence in Israel: Self-Care and Mental Health

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. ...
October 9, 2023 Interpersonal Interactions Israel

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.
June 16, 2023 Inclusion Parashat Shlach

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.
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.
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.
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.
May 18, 2023 Ethics Inclusion

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.
April 30, 2023 Blessings CJLS
Why Is Diversity Important at the Passover Seder?

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.
March 19, 2023 Holidays How to observe Passover
The Risks of Playing Jewish Geography

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 ...
November 17, 2022 Community Every Day
How to call Non-Binary Jews to the Torah

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 ...
August 1, 2022 CJLS Halakhah
Expanding Our Embrace: A Reflection on Inclusion

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.
June 21, 2022 Inclusion Learning
Why You Should Host a Pride Shabbat

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.
June 7, 2022 Inclusion LGBTQ+