By Josh Normand, , Seattle I have to say that I am not happy with the fact that the Democrats in this state are supported by many in the Jewish community, particularly for Governor and Attorney General. Inslee and Ferguson were inferior candidates to McKenna and Dunn. They will bankruptContinue Reading

By Mordecai Sackett, , Everett A new women’s liberation movement that demands equal pay should insist on women’s rights in other realms as well. (I think that the women’s liberation movement began with Esther). I agree with the Jessica Kessler Marshall column you published (“The Kotel belongs to all ofContinue Reading

By Rabbi Donniel Hartman , The Shalom Hartman Institute The foundational obligation and responsibility of every nation is to protect its people. When it comes to Israel, this obligation has a particular twist of a profoundly secular nature. Rising out of 2,000 years of powerlessness, and 2,000 years of beliefContinue Reading

By Rabbi Jessica Kessler Marshall, Temple Beth Or Several weeks ago, Israeli police arrested and imprisoned Anat Hoffman, a founder and organizer of Women of the Wall, and director of the Israel Religious Action Center. What was Hoffman’s crime? Simply wearing a tallit and praying the “Shema” with hundreds ofContinue Reading

By Diana Brement , JTNews Columnist Hurricane Sandy wreaked destruction in the Northeast, but in Issaquah it caused two neighbors to meet. Growing up in Kew Gardens, Queens, Sabina Honig had dreamed of running the New York Marathon since she was 10. She didn’t start running until about 2001, tryingContinue Reading

By Rivy Poupko Kletenik , JTNews Columnist Dear Rivy, I have always wondered about this question in connection to Hanukkah: Why, of all the different vessels in the Temple, does the story of Hanukkah care so much about the menorah? I am sure there were other items in the TempleContinue Reading

By Ben Cohen , JNS.org Back in September, President Barack Obama likened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s anxieties over America’s Iran policy to “noise.” Many pointed out, correctly, that this ill-advised remark was hardly fair to one of the few countries in the world where both the government and theContinue Reading

By Rabbi Chaim Levine, Hope for Heroism What is it about heroism that moves us so much? Why is it that when we witness human beings putting their lives on the line to help another we feel so inspired that we tell their stories long after they are gone? WeContinue Reading

By Robert Kaufman, , Seattle Israelis today face growing threats from all sides, with a remilitarized Sinai, Islamists on the rise and the Iranians inching closer to nuclear capability. Rabbi Daniel Weiner (“Lit by the nations?“ Rabbi’s Turn, Oct. 26) points to some extremists who have responded to the risingContinue Reading

By Rabbi Daniel A. Weiner, Temple De Hirsch Sinai “When Israel has prostitutes and thieves, we’ll be a state just like any other.” —David Ben Gurion David Gruen’s transformation into Daveed Ben Gurion, from European socialist to Zionist utopian, reflected his potent awareness that outward perception impacts inner identity. AndContinue Reading

By Rabbi Rob Toren, Executive Director, Amy Amiel, Senior Program Director, Samis Foundation, Seattle We commend the JTNews on its recent J-Teen insert in the October 12 edition. What a pleasure to hear first-hand from these impressive young Jewish adults their reflections on their engaging experiences with other Jewish teensContinue Reading

By Jerry Barrish, , Seattle I read Emily Alhadeff’s article on the Rosenzweig family (“The family Rosenzweig celebrates Sukkot,” Sept. 28), and it reminded me of how important Norm and Shirley were in my Jewish growth. I joined Congregation Beth Shalom in 1988, and both Norm and Shirley Rosenzweig actedContinue Reading

By Michael Natkin, JTNews Columnist Although Sukkot is past, with our mild climate in the Pacific Northwest the harvest most definitely continues. Beautiful wild mushrooms like chanterelles, morels, and even fresh porcini are available, as are new potatoes. Here’s a beautiful way to use those ingredients. Everything is sautéed untilContinue Reading