Tag: Judaism
Crime & Punishment: Are There Evil People?
Why does our current prison system exist? Why do we continue to support a punitive approach that blames the individual rather than putting the bulk of our resources into rehabilitation and reform? Per... Read More
Expanding Notions of Justice
As I shook his hand, I thanked him for his work and was about to say more when he posed a gentle challenge. “I listened with interest to your presentation,” he said, “especially the part about c... Read More
Jewish Disability Awareness Month
This February marks the fourth annual Jewish Disability Awareness Month, a time when special attention and emphasis is brought to the needs and experiences of people with disabilities in our communiti... Read More
The Times We Shouldn’t Defend Our Traditions
Martha Nussbaum writes, "Suppose Jeremiah had said, ‘the heart of Israel is corrupt utterly, but on the other hand there are some very nice people there.’” Sometimes, stating the nuance and the ... Read More
Tu B’Shevat: Trees and the Conflict
While I am energized and inspired by the way the holiday of Tu B'Shevat has become catalyst for the Jewish environmental movement, since returning a few weeks ago from five months in Israel I am consc... Read More
Tu Bishvat — The New Year for Trees
This article first appeared at http://judaism.bellaonline.com Tu Bishvat, the fifteenth of the month of Shvat, is known as the New Year for the Trees. Tu Bishvat is called such because each Hebrew let... Read More
Why We Still Need Religious Women’s Groups
In many congregations today, women’s groups function more like social clubs. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not against socializing. Some of the women’s groups I’ve seen offer valuable community to... Read More
Is Rooting for Tim Tebow Kosher?
As an observant Jew (as well as a San Diegan who views the Denver Broncos as a rival), I have frequently found myself wondering how I ought to feel about Tebowmania. For those who might have gone on... Read More