Intermarriage and questions (reblogged(

Intermarriage: An open letter to Orthodox and Conservative rabbis | Crystal Decadenz

Finding the right community

Finding My Jewish Community, or Making it Myself | Raising Kvell

These are the kinds of things I want to see in our religious school and in our congregation in general. Can't promise the tie die or the guitar (though I've got the beard down)! But I can promise fun and values! And thanks to Jenn Steinberg for sharing with me!

It’s official: Jewish camp strengthens Jewish identity | JTA - Jewish & Israel News

It’s official: Jewish camp strengthens Jewish identity | JTA - Jewish & Israel News

“Where camp has had its strongest effect has to do with its creation of an intense, temporary Jewish community,” said Cohen.

A nice reminder of the importance of Jewish camp, especially for those of us in the 302 who are most excited about the Happy Camper program coming to Delaware...

Yom HaZikaron

Remembering the 22,993 fallen defending the State of Israel today, and a reminder at what cost our Jewish State exists at all, not just in terms of our own blood spilled, but in terms of the blood of our 'enemies' as well.

“When peace comes we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons.” Golda Meir

I give up (which is to say, I'm on Twitter)

hit me up at #ravyair. https://twitter.com/#!/ravyair

What does it mean to be Jewish, in Israel and abroad? - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

What does it mean to be Jewish, in Israel and abroad? - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

The answer of how we are to be Jewish is different for many people, irrespective of a person’s other national identities. For some, the answer is obvious: being Jewish means being faithful to mitzvot, God’s commandments, as understood in the codification of Jewish law. For others, being Jewish is about cultural expressions, perhaps in terms of certain foods eaten at certain times of the year. What is important, however, is that one’s Jewishness is expressed in some way. While I will not deny that a Jew-by-genes is a Jew, as a Jewish educator I strive to instill something stronger than that in my students.

The spoiled leftist radical - Israel Opinion, Ynetnews

The spoiled leftist radical - Israel Opinion, Ynetnews

That's when I realized that for many of those foreign peace activists, this is all just a game. And in this game we, the Israelis and Palestinians, are the pieces. They come from all corners of the world to a faraway country they have never been to before. They confront soldiers and policemen, blocking roads and holding signs. Moreover – as long as they have their cold beer by the end of the evening, as long as they lay their heads in a comfy and friendly hostel – they will continue to arrive.
They take advantage of what we're most proud of: Our freedom, democracy and the tolerance that we're so afraid to lose. They take advantage of the strange system we have developed, the one that lets us disconnect ourselves from reality and continue with our lives even when real fighting takes place so close to us.