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By Rabbi Shmuel Brody , Ashreichem Yisrael Every once in a while, Seattle gets a visit from Old Jerusalem. An elderly fellow with a white beard, a full smile, and a strained walk, “Uncle Chaim from Yerushalayim” is how he is known. His sweetness and simplicity endears him to usContinue Reading

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By Rabbi Will Berkovitz, CEO, Jewish Family Service The tradition tells of a blind man, holding a blazing torch, walking a dark road late one night. A rabbi coming from the other direction recognizes the man as he approaches and asks, “Why do you need a torch? It isn’t goingContinue Reading

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In: Letters, Viewpoints

Ed Harris (“The Parallel America,” Dec. 20) believes that the mere existence of “dozens of religious institutions within a 10-minute drive of his home” is proof that religious liberty is alive and well in America. He writes that the idea that “Christians get pushed around” is not just wrong, butContinue Reading

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In response to Keith Dvorchik and Rabbi Aaron Meyer‘s discussion on “For the Sake of Birthright” (Dec. 13 and 20), I think both are right. As a young Jewish adult, I know friends that have gone. Some have had amazing experiences that made them more committed to their Hebrew heritage,Continue Reading

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In: Abba Knows Best, Columnists

By Ed Harris, JTNews Columnist “I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians… [W]here did the idea come from that… we aren’t allowed to worship God?” — Ben Stein, from CBS Sunday Morning, Dec. 18, 2005Continue Reading

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In: Columnists, What's Your JQ?

By Rivy Poupko Kletenik, JTNews Columnist Dear Rivy, I’m not sure how to approach this issue. I don’t mean to overdramatize; however, a major family battle is brewing over — believe it or not — gefilte fish. My family is very traditional and serves gefilte fish at every major JewishContinue Reading

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By Rabbi Jill Borodin , Congregation Beth Shalom Rabbi Haninah, the son of Papa, says (in the Talmud, Tractate Berachot, page 35b): “Anyone who enjoys anything from this world without a blessing, it is as if they have stolen from God and the community of Israel.” What a statement —Continue Reading

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In: Letters, Viewpoints

Keith Dvorchik and I recently wrote of our dissenting opinions regarding the efficacy of Taglit-Birthright Israel for JTNews (“Why Birthright Israel is hafuch,” Rabbi’s Turn, Dec. 13; “Why Birthright makes a difference,” Dec. 20). Truly this is “an argument for the sake of heaven,” as we both care deeply aboutContinue Reading

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In: Opinion, Viewpoints

By Keith Dvorchik , Special to JTNews I read with dismay the opinion piece “Why Birthright Israel is hafuch“ by Rabbi Aaron Meyer, published Thursday in the JTNews’s 3 O’ Clock News. Having spent the past 15 years on a college campus and sending thousands of students on Birthright journeys,Continue Reading

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In: Editorials, Viewpoints

By Joel Magalnick , Editor, JTNews Josephine Jack Charlotte Jessica Dylan Allison Madeline James Avielle Benjamin Olivia Caroline Jesse Daniel Emilie Chase Ana Grace Catherine Noah Look at those names. Look at them again. Now put a face to a name, perhaps a child you know. Now imagine that asContinue Reading

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In: Letters, Viewpoints

By Charlene Freadman Kahn, , Seattle Yasher Koach to Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum for writing, and to JTNews for publishing, one of the most heartfelt and thought-provoking opinion pieces relating to the conflict in Israel and Palestine I’ve read in any publication. (“Getting Caught Trying,” Rabbi’s Turn, Nov. 15) In theContinue Reading