As we observe Yom HaShoah this year, the haunting echoes of the Holocaust feel closer than ever—not because of our proximity to the past, but because of the growing shadows of denial and indifference in the present. For decades, we’ve said “Never Forget.” Yet we continue to witness the unsettling rise in Holocaust denial, distortion, [...]

Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is an eight-day Jewish celebration. It marks the miraculous victory of the Maccabees, Jewish freedom fighters, over the Seleucidian Greek occupiers in the year 139 BCE. After recapturing Jerusalem’s Holy Temple, they searched for pure oil with which to light the Temple menorah. Although they found just enough to burn for one [...]

Gifts For Grandchildren: Holiday Gift Guide Holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate special occasions with our loved ones, and gather with those we care about. One of the most fulfilling aspects of holidays is the joy of gift-giving, especially to your grandchildren whose joy is palpable. What are the best gifts for grandchildren from [...]

By Jo Strausz Rosen Modern readers will find very few pages on Sukkot in The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia. Although it ranks low on the irreverent tome’s “religi-o-meter,” the weeklong holiday ranks high on our joy meter. When Is Sukkot? This year our fall harvest festival begins at sundown on Sunday, October 9, the 15th Day [...]

By Jo Strausz Rosen Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, is considered the most important holiday of the Jewish year. Traditionally, we fast, attend synagogue and practice the rituals of introspection and repentance during worship services. Each year, we live, act, and strive toward our goals and achieve new levels of skills. Reflecting on our [...]

By Jo Strausz Rosen As the Days of Awe approach, I find myself reminiscing, as I do every year, about my parents. I remember us all living under one roof, attending High Holy Days at Temple Emanu-El, and of course, getting new clothes to welcome the New Year. The pomp and circumstance of the Holiday [...]