Reform, Really

Allergic to Judaism?

Adam Dickter — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:50:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

God bless the inventors of Benadryl. My goodness – allergy season is in full gear, and you can see its wear and tear on the people around you. Swollen eyes, runny noses, and sluggish speech – these are the marks of those who suffer from seasonal allergies. So, what do you do if you are affected? You stay away from the outdoors, you keep your air conditioner on, and you take your medicine.

allergies Benadryl. Jewish rituals

Adult B’nai Mitzvah – The Power of Ritual

Adam Dickter — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:10:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

I looked out at their faces: some immensely excited, some already nervous, some obviously bored. I had asked each 12 year old in the room to turn to their parents and to discuss what the family was most looking forward to in the coming year, as they approached the celebration of becoming B’nai Mitzvah. We went around the room, and each family had a chance to answer: “seeing all of our family and friends in one place,” and “the party,” were the most common answers.

Adult bae mitzvahs Haftarah Huffington Post Newsday

From Darkness To Light

Adam Dickter — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:40:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

Spring is finally here; though, arguably, we never really had a satisfying winter. Sunlight and warmth enter through our windows, and every day feels like it holds new possibility and potential. Especially in New York, when the tables and chairs are set up outside local restaurants, and more people start to gather at the parks, it feels like the city comes alive again.

Judaism and Mental Illness R’fuat HaNefesh: Caring for the Soul The Department of Jewish Family Concerns Union for Reform

Pet Therapy

Adam Dickter — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

Oy, life gets hard sometimes, no? We ride the roller coaster of our daily lives, sometimes barely hanging on, and looking for moments of respite from the craziness. For those of us who are pet lovers (dogs, cats, birds, fish, iguanas, etc.), one of the sweetest times of the day is when we come home to our beloved animal companions. Our animals often seem to have a supernatural ability to “get us,” and to know when we need extra special love and attention.

birds cats dogs fish Genesis iguanas Jews and pets

The Smile Experiment

Adam Dickter — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:38:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

It was a simple idea, really: a tear-off sheet, like the ones you always see advertising “Guitar Lessons” or “Housecleaning Services.” Instead, I was going to offer “Free Smiles.” I saw a posting for something similar on the new social media site, Pinterest, and I decided to make one of my own.

Pinterest Sanford smiles Toulouse tzuris

Hungary For Judaism

Adam Dickter — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:37:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

The Torah’s words were familiar: “V’asu Li mikdash, v’shachanti b’tocham.” And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. This verse from Exodus 25:8 took on entirely new meaning as I sat, Shabbat morning, in a Reform service in Budapest, Hungary. I just returned from a powerful Rabbinic Mission with 28 other rabbis, sponsored by the Jewish Federations of North America, The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

Balint JCC Exodus Hungarian Jewry Rabbi Ferenc Raj Reform Movement

Just Like a Prayer:

Gershon Fastow — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:33:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

Experiments in Worship

L'Dor V'Dor: Honoring Our Oldest Generations

Adam Dickter — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:04:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

As Tu B’Shevat approaches each year, and we prepare to celebrate the New Year of the Trees, many of us rabbis love to return to one of our most favorite stories: Honi the Circle-Maker and the Carob Trees. The story, which is first found in the Mishnah, begins with Honi walking down the road. He happens upon a person planting a carob tree, a tree known for taking a very long time (at least 75 years) to produce fruit.

Chai Club G-dcast Generation Y Milennials Tu B'Shevat YouTube

Saying Yes, Saying No

Lisa Shimabukuro — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:06:29 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

This past Monday night, I sat in a circle with my 9th and 10th grade students. I asked them to give me an example of a way in which Judaism encourages us to take care of ourselves. They sat, thoughtfully, unsure of how to answer my question. I then asked, “How do you know that it is important to rest and recharge ourselves, at least once a week?” “SHABBAT!” They cried out. We discussed how lucky we are to be members of a tradition that not only values self-care, but also commands us to take a break once a week.

The Power Of The Music Of The Night

Adam Dickter — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:23:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

So, you know how there are tons of melodies for “Adon Olam?” You may not have ever thought about it before, but there are so many out there. Yes, each congregation may default to one or another, but the words to “Adon Olam” can be fit into many modern tunes. As rabbinical students in Jerusalem, we used to do a sing-down game where two teams would compete to see how many melodies to “Adon Olam” we could come up with (yes, this is what we did for fun).

Adon Olam Debbie Friedman Shabbat Shira URJ’s Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute Camp

Truly Welcoming Interfaith Families

Adam Dickter — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:19:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

jewish Week Online Columnist

Glancing around the lobby recently, just as Religious School was dismissed, I took note of who was gathered to pick up their children. Some mothers, some fathers, some grandparents – this was not surprising. What was surprising was that many of the parents present were the non-Jewish parent of an interfaith household. These non-Jewish parents were responsible for bringing their Jewish children to and from Religious School on a weekly basis. And, thus, these non-Jewish parents were ensuring the formation of their children’s Jewish identity.

URJ Biennial Recap – Day 5: "Hineni"

Adam Dickter — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:39:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

Is it really over already? We spend two years looking forward to each Union for Reform Judaism Biennial, only to have the five days of learning, singing, laughing, and praying go by much too quickly. Many of my friends and colleagues liken the feeling to our sadness leaving overnight camp at the end of each summer – we miss it immediately, and can’t wait for the next time that we are all together again.

Barack Obama Biennial Eric Yoffie Jonah Pesner

URJ Biennial Recap Days 3 and 4: "A Shabbat Of Wholeness"

Adam Dickter — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 06:05:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

I’ve had some incredible Shabbat experiences in my lifetime thus far…but this past Friday and Saturday have won the prize for best ever. Biennial attendees woke up Friday morning, and most of us only thought about one word: “Obama.” Yes, friends, President Barack Obama was going to be paying us all a visit at the 71^st URJ Biennial here in Washington, D.C.

CNN David Broza Ehud Barack Eric Yoffie Obama R.E.M. Reform Biennial Rick Jacobs Save Darfur Times Square

Prayer on the Go? There’s an App for That!

Adam Dickter — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:44:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

I slowly walked down the stairs, brain still half asleep, eyes half-closed. I saw my dad seated at my dining room table, wide awake, staring intently into his Kindle. My parents were in town for the High Holy Days, a time of year we hadn’t spent together in a long time. “Whatcha reading?” I mumbled, mid-yawn, and he promptly told me that he was enjoying his early morning Rashi. Rashi – on his Kindle! And then he was planning on studying a bit of Talmud before continuing with his day.

apps CCAR Dan Medwin e-readers Hera Person iTunes Kindle Rashi

Asher Yatzar: The Wisdom of our Bodies

Adam Dickter — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:47:00 +0000

Reform, Really

Rabbi Marci N. Bellows

Jewish Week Online Columnist

It’s easy to let opportunities for gratitude pass you by. Many of us might find it easier to talk to God when we need something, but then forget to express appreciation when things go well. We might get frustrated or angry when life doesn’t go as planned, yet not take a moment to pause when things are, well, just fine.

health and healing