The “Open Tent Initiative” is a wonderful way to build a strong sense of community. Congregation Rodeph Shalom (RS) recently won an award given by the Union for Reform Judaism (the umbrella organization for all of the Reform Jewish congregations in North America) for our “Open Tent Initiative.” This initiative...
Boy is it cold out there. For me, a Miami boy, this is skin-peeling cold. I know because I just walked four blocks up Broad Street in this wind. I was walking to visit my friend Josh at the Red Shield Shelter. Josh is the Business Manager at the shelter,...
Rabbi Jill L. Maderer At last night’s “Taste of the New Year,” Philadelphia’s wine-tasting and synagogue-matching program for young adults, I met many people who are seeking a congregation. If you are a young adult (22-40), missed the event but would like an invitation to High Holy Day services (“High...
On my door I have a "Stop the Genocide" sticker. It's been there for over three years now, and the war in Darfur drags on. So why am I fasting on what seems like a random day in August 2009 for this cause? Why not let it simmer on the...
By Rabbi Jill Maderer For generations and generations, Jewish communities have engaged a sofer (scribe) to pen a Torah scroll. Each scribe follows extremely specific regulations in order to make the scroll, kosher, or fit. Although nothing has changed about these regulations, a new initiative is underway, to help make us...
Are new parents in my generation simply influenced by a character on the popular television show, "Friends," who named her daughter, Emma?
Congregation Rodeph Shalom, a Reform congregation located in Center City Philadelphia, connects a diverse population to Judaism through prayer, study and social action. We are an inclusive community with families who have life-long Jewish connections, adults new to Jewish study, interfaith couples, and individuals of varied backgrounds, sexual orientations and philosophical points...
