What “Just Mercy” Means to Me as a Black Jew
I carry the trauma of my ancestors, who were kidnapped and enslaved, who survived post-abolition racist terrorism, and who survived devastating Jim Crow laws. I also carry the history of the Jewish people, who have survived countless acts of violence, forced conversion, and genocide.
The Mitzvah of Canceling: What Guided Our Congregation's COVID-19 Decisions
Recently, our synagogue leaders found itself in a similar position to Nachson. With news that coronavirus had reached our community, we stood between a known threat and unknown consequences.
Finding Wholeheartedness in Your Life
In Parashat Noach, Noah is called an, ish tzaddik tamim, a “blameless” or “wholehearted person in his age.” But biblical commentators criticize his conduct, saying he lacked compassion for his fellow man and that he committed incest. What, then, is the meaning of the word tamim?