http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org our jewish community online congregation Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:32:06 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en There's been a lot of chatter lately, particularly in the Jewish world, about whether Chelsea Clinton and her fiancé Marc Mezvinksy will have a Jewish wedding.  My primary response is: leave them alone! While the values, traditions, and religious framework that Chelsea and Marc will adopt in their new life ... http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/2010/03/09/will-chelsea-clinton-have-a-jewish-wedding/ Purim is a fun Jewish holiday- and definitely one of the most wild holidays.  Purim is a story of beauty pageants, royal families, marital problems, bad guys, murder, and more. King Ahasheurus marries Queen Esther, whom he does not know is Jewish. Haman (boo Haman!!!) decides all the Jews should be ... http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/2010/02/26/i-love-purim/ CNN has an interesting video posted about women participating fully in the Israeli army (I’ve included it at the end of this blog entry).  It’s a great piece – and I admire all soldiers – male and female – who fight to protect their nation’s citizens.  In Israel, all young ... http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/2010/02/17/women-in-the-military-israel-and-the-us/ Last month I was invited to speak at a Jewish Day School about my approach to prayer.  Over the course of the year, fourth through eighth grade students hear from several rabbis in the community about their personal approach and congregation’s approach to prayer. Explaining Judaism with a humanistic perspective to ... http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/2010/02/12/stained-glass-windows-creation-vs-evolution/ Since September of 2008, OurJewishCommunity.org has been videostreaming webcasts of our services.  Hundreds, and often thousands, of people watch each of our services.  We videostream our High Holiday services directly from the sanctuary at Congregation Beth Adam.  Our Shabbat services are specifically designed to be online; they are short (20-30 ... http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/2010/02/03/online-shabbat-memorial-service-submit-names/ Most years the big conversation about Super Bowl ads happens on the Monday after the game.  But, this year a controversial situation arose more than a week before the Super Bowl.  A conservative Christian group (Focus on the Family) is planning to air an ad featuring football player Tim Tebow ... http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/2010/02/01/tim-tebow-super-bowl-ad-controversy/ Today is Tu B'Shevat - the New Year of the Trees.  Yes, trees get their own celebration of the new year - but they don't wear party hats or stay up until midnight.  According to the Mishnah (Jewish text codified around 200 CE), there are four Jewish New Years - ... http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/2010/01/30/tu-bshevat-new-year-of-the-trees/ No, that's not what I had for dinner last night.  Well, almost.  A few nights ago I was rinsing off my whole wheat pasta shells while preparing dinner.  I glanced at the shells in the strainer and noticed one had something in it.  I wasn't sure what it was, but ... http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/2010/01/27/virgin-mary-toast-and-jewish-star-pasta/ I haven't been to the Creation Museum (perhaps it would be more accurate if I called it the Creation Church since it is more Church than Museum).  I simply can't bring myself to pay to enter such a facility. Rabbi Barr, though, has had opportunity to visit the Creation Museum ... http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/2010/01/23/a-rabbis-take-on-the-creation-museum/ The news from Haiti this week has been profoundly upsetting for all of us.  To see so many lives taken prematurely and suddenly is hard to watch.  To think about people alive but trapped is beyond upsetting. To add insult to injury, people like Pat Robertson have made some horrible statements ... http://www.ourjewishcommunity.org/2010/01/18/tragic-events-in-haiti-and-a-focus-on-heroism/