Ultra-Orthodox Jewish View of Elena Kagan
An interesting article caught the eye of RS member Matt Olesh. A recent CNSNews.com piece, “Jewish Clergy Group: Elena Kagan Isn’t ‘Kosher’ to Serve on Supreme Court” reports on the […]
Liberal Zionism in the Wake of the Flotilla
by Rabbi Jill Maderer In his recent New York Review of Books essay, “The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment,” Peter Beinart, professor of journalism and political science at CUNY, […]
Is the Torah true?
One of the most common questions I am asked: Is the Torah true? Did it happen? Our liberal Jewish community is compelled to seek meaning in the Torah and understand […]
Michael Hauptman’s Work in New Orleans Synagogue
With pride, we share the accomplishments of RS officer, architect Michael Hauptman, as reported in this week’s The Jewish Exponent.
Open Tent Initiative
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 […]
(Another Reason) Why I love what I do.
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 […]
Welcoming You to the High Holy Days
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 […]
Fasting for Darfur
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...
Torah Scroll-Writing Meets Technology…and Meets Women
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 […]
Emma and Jacob: Baby Names and Our Jewish Roots
Are new parents in my generation simply influenced by a character on the popular television show, "Friends," who named her daughter, Emma?