Teens

June 27, 2024

The Grape Cluster and the Two Who Carry It: A D’var Torah for Pride

This is the D'var Torah I gave for Pride Shabbat 5781/2021, for Parashat Sh'lach L'cha (Numbers 13:1-15:41). I love this parasha about the scouts, the m’raglim, and the fact that the Torah is so brutally honest about how hard it is to go forward even to a land of milk and honey, even when the… Continue reading

Calendar, Conservative Judaism, Current Affairs, Education, Equality, Friendship, GLBT, Gratitude, Hakarat Hatov, Inclusion, Jewish Education, Justice, LGBTQ+, Parashat Hashavua, Sh’lach L’cha, Teens, Teshuvah, Tikkun Olam, Torah, Tzedek, Young Jewish Adult, Youth
September 20, 2021

Integrating America: Lame Deer and the Native American Critic

Summer reading assignment: Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions: by John (Fire) Lame Deer and Richard Erdoes Before year 1 of the course, Leslie thought this book would pair well with my Michael Walzer, “connected critic” idea, since Lame Deer was a Native American, an outside observer. I was skeptical but now I’m glad… Continue reading

#integratingamerica, Antisemitism, Books, Current Affairs, Education, Foregiveness, History, Hope, Inclusion, Peace, Study, Teens, Tzedek, USA, Youth
September 10, 2021

Integrating America: The Connected Critic

Leslie and I experimented with the readings for a short opening unit on how to study America. I advocated the first year for excerpts from the political philosopher Michael Walzer's Interpretation and Social Criticism. Walzer articulated the idea of the "connected critic", someone who was inside a society enough to be committed to its people and its… Continue reading

#integratingamerica, Books, Current Affairs, Education, Equality, Ethics, Freedom, History, Inclusion, Jewish Education, Justice, Study, Teens, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA, Youth
September 9, 2021

“Integrating America” Revisited

#integratingamericaOops, I posted two items out of order! Two months ago I posted an almost-vow, and in the Jewish year we're headed into the season when we think about our vows… In reflecting on my state's new law around teaching about controversial topics, I suggested in July I might go back this year and… Continue reading

#integratingamerica, Current Affairs, Education, Equality, Freedom, History, Inclusion, Justice, Study, Teens, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA, Youth
September 9, 2021

Integrating America: An Artifact That Represents America

#integratingamerica Assignment: Choose an artifact that to you represents America, American society, or American culture. Feel free to share an image and/or explanation in the comments here or in your own post. ————— When I began co-teaching the course, the artifact I chose was the book and album “Free to Be You and Me.” It’s… Continue reading

#integratingamerica, Books, Current Affairs, Education, Equality, Feminism, Freedom, Gender, Inclusion, Justice, Study, Teens, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA, Youth
December 29, 2020

Disrupting Texts is a Tradition — My Hosea Story

A Facebook post by a congregant highlighted a controversy around an initiative called #DisruptTexts, and my response to it was going to be much longer than a typical FB comment. #DisruptTexts as a specific project isn't something I had heard of, but as I skimmed the website the other day it certainly doesn't seem brand… Continue reading

Abuse, Books, Current Affairs, Education, Ethics, Feminism, Foregiveness, Jewish Education, Justice, Leadership, Numbers, Parashat Hashavua, Prophets, Ritual, Study, Teacher-Student Relationship, Teens, Tikkun Olam, Torah, Tzedek, USA, Young Jewish Adult, Youth
September 22, 2019

5 Reasons To Take Your Kid Out of School for the High Holy Days

It is not easy to take a day off of school or work for the High Holy Days. As school pressures have become more demanding, even at younger ages, the decision about bringing children to services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur on a school day might be more difficult for a parent than ever… Continue reading

9/11, Antisemitism, Calendar, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Elul, Ethics, Foregiveness, High Holidays, Holidays, Inclusion, Jewish Education, Rosh Hashanah, Spirituality, Teens, Temple Beth Abraham, USA, Yamim Noraim, Yom Kippur, Youth
February 4, 2016

Reflections: Hillary Clinton Responds To My Question

On February 3, I had the honor of participating in a nationally-televised town hall with Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I was selected to ask Secretary Clinton a question. Here is the exchange, in video and in transcript: RABBI JONATHAN SPIRA-SAVETT: Rabbi Simcha Bunim taught that every person has to… Continue reading

Current Affairs, Election, Jewish Education, Leadership, Spirituality, Teens, Temple Beth Abraham, Tikkun Olam, USA, Youth
March 17, 2011

More Purim: “Esther Among the Muggles”

Another interesting article, from Professor Carol Ingall, professor of Jewish education at the Jewish Theological Seminary, comparing Esther and Harry Potter! Both the Kadosh Barukh Hu and J. K. Rowling know what makes for a gripping story: take an orphan, afflict him or her with tsuris, and watch the true mettle of the hero emerge.… Continue reading

Harry Potter, Holidays, Purim, Teens, Youth
December 16, 2009

Chanuka — Sixth Candle

If you're looking for something to help people who are not Jewish understand Chanuka, here is a 13-minute TV interview I did this month for Londonderry's public access cable TV program "Londonderry Heart, Home, and Soul" with host Mark Oswald. Jewish dedication for the sixth candle: The Young Judaea Zionism movement's "Year Course" has been… Continue reading

Chanuka, Holidays, Israel, Jewish Education, Teens, Young Jewish Adult