Issue

{ "volume": "86", "name": "Fall 2025 (5786)", "link": "https://jewishaction.com/wp/issues/fall-2025-5786/", "hebrewYear": "5786", "coverImage": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757089196/Jewishaction/Fall-25/Fall-25.jpg?_i=AA", "onlineViewer": "https://issuu.com/jewishaction/docs/jewish_action_fall_2025", "specialPosts": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/inside-the-ou/new-books-from-ou-press/coming-soon-from-ou-press-fall-2025/", "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/books/", "name": "Books" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/jewish-law/", "name": "Jewish Law" }, { "uri": "/category/food/kashrut/", "name": "Kashrut" }, { "uri": "/category/inside-the-ou/new-books-from-ou-press/", "name": "New Books from OU Press" } ] }, "title": "Coming Soon from OU Press – Fall 2025 ", "excerpt": "HaHashgachah KeHilchatah: Shorshei HaKashrut HaTzibburit (Kosher Certification According to Halachah: The Foundations of Communal Kashrut)...", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757526801/Jewishaction/New-from-OU-Press/New-from-OU-Press.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757526801/Jewishaction/New-from-OU-Press/New-from-OU-Press.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757526801/Jewishaction/New-from-OU-Press/New-from-OU-Press.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "uri": "/health/letters-fall-2025/", "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/books/", "name": "Books" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/education/", "name": "Education" }, { "uri": "/category/health/", "name": "Health" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-world/israel/", "name": "Israel" }, { "uri": "/category/life-ordeals/", "name": "Life Ordeals" }, { "uri": "/category/tribute/", "name": "Tribute" } ] }, "title": "Letters – Fall 2025", "excerpt": "Taking a Stand Against Phones in Schools, Remembering Tobie and Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Dealing with...", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_146,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1726848663/Jewishaction/Newsletter_LettersF24/Newsletter_LettersF24.png?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_1024,h_497,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1726848663/Jewishaction/Newsletter_LettersF24/Newsletter_LettersF24.png?_i=AA 1024w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_768,h_372,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1726848663/Jewishaction/Newsletter_LettersF24/Newsletter_LettersF24.png?_i=AA 768w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_1536,h_745,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1726848663/Jewishaction/Newsletter_LettersF24/Newsletter_LettersF24.png?_i=AA 1536w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_2048,h_993,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1726848663/Jewishaction/Newsletter_LettersF24/Newsletter_LettersF24.png?_i=AA 2048w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1726848663/Jewishaction/Newsletter_LettersF24/Newsletter_LettersF24.png?_i=AA" } } }, { "uri": "/from-the-desk-of-rabbi-moshe-hauer/sodom-akeidat-yitzchak-and-the-new-york-times-a-yamim-noraim-reflection/", "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/from-the-desk-of-rabbi-moshe-hauer/", "name": "From the Desk of Rabbi Moshe Hauer" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-world/history/", "name": "History" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-world/israel/", "name": "Israel" }, { "uri": "/category/october-7/", "name": "October 7" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/tanach/", "name": "Tanach" } ] }, "title": "Sodom, Akeidat Yitzchak and the New York Times: A Yamim Noraim Reflection", "excerpt": "Why is this rare and vivid display of G-d’s truth virtually ignored? \n", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_146,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1726849551/Jewishaction/Newsletter_HAUER-1/Newsletter_HAUER-1.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_1024,h_497,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1726849551/Jewishaction/Newsletter_HAUER-1/Newsletter_HAUER-1.jpg?_i=AA 1024w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_768,h_373,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1726849551/Jewishaction/Newsletter_HAUER-1/Newsletter_HAUER-1.jpg?_i=AA 768w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_1536,h_746,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1726849551/Jewishaction/Newsletter_HAUER-1/Newsletter_HAUER-1.jpg?_i=AA 1536w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_2048,h_994,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1726849551/Jewishaction/Newsletter_HAUER-1/Newsletter_HAUER-1.jpg?_i=AA 2048w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_2560,h_1243,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1726849551/Jewishaction/Newsletter_HAUER-1/Newsletter_HAUER-1.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "uri": "/mensch-management/the-spirituality-of-imperfection-lessons-for-the-yamim-noraim/", "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/mensch-management/", "name": "Mensch Management" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/rosh-hashanah/", "name": "Rosh Hashanah" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/yom-kippur/", "name": "Yom Kippur" } ] }, "title": "The Spirituality of Imperfection: Lessons for the Yamim Noraim", "excerpt": "When fear of failure holds us back, we never fully push ourselves to next-level thinking,...", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_148,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1710048225/Jewishaction/Rabbi-Dr.-Josh-Joseph-Circle-Web-Headshot_271952d3d7/Rabbi-Dr.-Josh-Joseph-Circle-Web-Headshot_271952d3d7.png?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_1024,h_504,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1710048225/Jewishaction/Rabbi-Dr.-Josh-Joseph-Circle-Web-Headshot_271952d3d7/Rabbi-Dr.-Josh-Joseph-Circle-Web-Headshot_271952d3d7.png?_i=AA 1024w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_768,h_378,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1710048225/Jewishaction/Rabbi-Dr.-Josh-Joseph-Circle-Web-Headshot_271952d3d7/Rabbi-Dr.-Josh-Joseph-Circle-Web-Headshot_271952d3d7.png?_i=AA 768w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1710048225/Jewishaction/Rabbi-Dr.-Josh-Joseph-Circle-Web-Headshot_271952d3d7/Rabbi-Dr.-Josh-Joseph-Circle-Web-Headshot_271952d3d7.png?_i=AA 1268w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1710048225/Jewishaction/Rabbi-Dr.-Josh-Joseph-Circle-Web-Headshot_271952d3d7/Rabbi-Dr.-Josh-Joseph-Circle-Web-Headshot_271952d3d7.png?_i=AA" } } } ] }, "regularPosts": { "nodes": [ { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/jewish-world/history/", "name": "History" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-society/", "name": "Jewish Society" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/rosh-hashanah/", "name": "Rosh Hashanah" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/", "name": "Shabbat/Holidays" }, { "uri": "/category/synagogue-prayer/", "name": "Synagogue & Prayer" }, { "uri": "/category/the-arts/", "name": "The Arts" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/yom-kippur/", "name": "Yom Kippur" } ] }, "title": "Between Nusach and Niggun: The Chazzan’s Evolving Role", "excerpt": "<p>Certainly, a chazzan can make—or break—the Yamim Noraim experience. Given the importance of the chazzan to the upcoming holidays, it’s worth exploring the history of singing in shul.</p>\n", "uri": "/synagogue-prayer/between-nusach-and-niggun-the-chazzans-evolving-role/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757520424/Jewishaction/Between-Nussach-and-Niggun/Between-Nussach-and-Niggun.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757520424/Jewishaction/Between-Nussach-and-Niggun/Between-Nussach-and-Niggun.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757520424/Jewishaction/Between-Nussach-and-Niggun/Between-Nussach-and-Niggun.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/religion/jewish-thought/", "name": "Jewish Thought" }, { "uri": "/category/on-my-mind/", "name": "On My Mind" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/rosh-hashanah/", "name": "Rosh Hashanah" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/", "name": "Shabbat/Holidays" } ] }, "title": "The Power of Preparation: Elevating Mitzvos Through Hachanah ", "excerpt": "<p>Our lack of meaningful personal hachanah may well lie at the root of many of our religious challenges. </p>\n", "uri": "/on-my-mind/the-power-of-preparation-elevating-mitzvos-through-hachanah/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757520910/Jewishaction/On-My-Mind-Fall-25/On-My-Mind-Fall-25.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757520910/Jewishaction/On-My-Mind-Fall-25/On-My-Mind-Fall-25.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757520910/Jewishaction/On-My-Mind-Fall-25/On-My-Mind-Fall-25.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/religion/inspiration/", "name": "Inspiration" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/rosh-hashanah/", "name": "Rosh Hashanah" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/yom-kippur/", "name": "Yom Kippur" } ] }, "title": "Tips for Preparing for the High Holidays", "excerpt": "<p>Ten meaningful things you can do during the forty days of Elul and the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah to prepare spiritually and emotionally for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.</p>\n", "uri": "/religion/shabbat-holidays/rosh-hashanah/tips-for-preparing-for-the-high-holidays/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757520963/Jewishaction/Tips-to-Prepare-for-the-High-Holidays/Tips-to-Prepare-for-the-High-Holidays.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757520963/Jewishaction/Tips-to-Prepare-for-the-High-Holidays/Tips-to-Prepare-for-the-High-Holidays.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757520963/Jewishaction/Tips-to-Prepare-for-the-High-Holidays/Tips-to-Prepare-for-the-High-Holidays.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/jewish-culture/", "name": "Jewish Culture" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-world/people/", "name": "People" } ] }, "title": "Building a Community: Stories from the Ground Up ", "excerpt": "<p>What does it take to build a community? In the articles ahead, we meet some of the men and women whose steady efforts have shaped the rhythm of Jewish life in their cities.</p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/building-a-community-stories-from-the-ground-up/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521014/Jewishaction/Building-a-Community/Building-a-Community.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521014/Jewishaction/Building-a-Community/Building-a-Community.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521014/Jewishaction/Building-a-Community/Building-a-Community.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-society/", "name": "Jewish Society" }, { "uri": "/category/profile/", "name": "Profile" } ] }, "title": "Getting It Done, and Doing It Right, in Houston: Yakov Polatsek", "excerpt": "<p>“He sat with me for half an hour, called his wife, took money from one place, borrowed from another place and addressed the deficit . . . From that moment, by default, he took financial responsibility for the school.”</p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/getting-it-done-and-doing-it-right-in-houston-yakov-polatsek/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521203/Jewishaction/Houston/Houston.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521203/Jewishaction/Houston/Houston.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521203/Jewishaction/Houston/Houston.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/family/", "name": "Family" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-living/", "name": "Jewish Living" }, { "uri": "/category/profile/", "name": "Profile" } ] }, "title": "Warmth Beyond Sunshine in Phoenix: Shaun and Gary Tuch", "excerpt": "<p>Shaun and Gary have both rolled up their sleeves and thrown themselves into local life, doing their part to take the community to the next level. </p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/warmth-beyond-sunshine-in-phoenix-shaun-and-gary-tuch/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_300,c_fill,g_auto/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521763/Jewishaction/Pheonix-1/Pheonix-1.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_150,h_150,c_fill,g_auto/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521763/Jewishaction/Pheonix-1/Pheonix-1.jpg?_i=AA 150w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521763/Jewishaction/Pheonix-1/Pheonix-1.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521763/Jewishaction/Pheonix-1/Pheonix-1.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-living/", "name": "Jewish Living" }, { "uri": "/category/profile/", "name": "Profile" } ] }, "title": "Living Together in Linden: Andy and Samantha Van Houter", "excerpt": "<p>“I don’t think that this type of relationship between Modern Orthodox and Chassidic Jews exists anywhere else.”</p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/living-together-in-linden-andy-and-samantha-van-houter/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521591/Jewishaction/Linden-NJ/Linden-NJ.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521591/Jewishaction/Linden-NJ/Linden-NJ.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521591/Jewishaction/Linden-NJ/Linden-NJ.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-society/", "name": "Jewish Society" }, { "uri": "/category/profile/", "name": "Profile" } ] }, "title": "Putting Springfield, New Jersey, on the Map: Ben Hoffer", "excerpt": "<p>Even families that move away for one reason or another always come back to attend a Springfield simchah.</p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/putting-springfield-new-jersey-on-the-map-ben-hoffer/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521790/Jewishaction/Springfeild-NJ/Springfeild-NJ.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521790/Jewishaction/Springfeild-NJ/Springfeild-NJ.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521790/Jewishaction/Springfeild-NJ/Springfeild-NJ.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-living/", "name": "Jewish Living" }, { "uri": "/category/profile/", "name": "Profile" } ] }, "title": "How a Shul Rewrote Its Story: Yosef Kirschner  ", "excerpt": "<p>The invitation came as a surprise to Kirschner. “Growing up, I never saw myself as a leader and never sought out leadership positions.” </p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/how-a-shul-rewrote-its-story-yosef-kirschner/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521880/Jewishaction/Ohio/Ohio.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521880/Jewishaction/Ohio/Ohio.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757521880/Jewishaction/Ohio/Ohio.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-living/", "name": "Jewish Living" }, { "uri": "/category/profile/", "name": "Profile" } ] }, "title": "The Accidental Activist: Avi Apfel", "excerpt": "<p>To be heavily involved in an initiative like this, you must have thick skin . . . . And that’s before you start fundraising or recruiting a board.</p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/the-accidental-activist-avi-apfel/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757522042/Jewishaction/Philly/Philly.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757522042/Jewishaction/Philly/Philly.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757522042/Jewishaction/Philly/Philly.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-living/", "name": "Jewish Living" }, { "uri": "/category/profile/", "name": "Profile" } ] }, "title": "Modeling Leadership in Memphis: Noam and Dr. Deena Davidovics  ", "excerpt": "<p>“The experience in Baltimore made us realize that things can actually fall apart. . . . We can’t take it for granted that an institution will survive without hard work.”  </p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/modeling-leadership-in-memphis-noam-and-dr-deena-davidovics/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757522193/Jewishaction/Memphis/Memphis.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757522193/Jewishaction/Memphis/Memphis.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757522193/Jewishaction/Memphis/Memphis.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/family/", "name": "Family" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-living/", "name": "Jewish Living" } ] }, "title": "Where Is Tennessee?", "excerpt": "<p>Far from the frum frenzy, one newly Southern Jew reflects on finding home—and herself—deep in the heart of Memphis. </p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/where-is-tennessee/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757526867/Jewishaction/Memphis-Rachel-Schwartzberg/Memphis-Rachel-Schwartzberg.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757526867/Jewishaction/Memphis-Rachel-Schwartzberg/Memphis-Rachel-Schwartzberg.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757526867/Jewishaction/Memphis-Rachel-Schwartzberg/Memphis-Rachel-Schwartzberg.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-world/israel/", "name": "Israel" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-living/", "name": "Jewish Living" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/outreach/", "name": "Outreach" } ] }, "title": "Lessons in Community Building—From Israel: How a Religious Community Took Root in Ariel", "excerpt": "<p>Though Ariel always had religious residents, they were a small minority. That has changed. </p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/lessons-in-community-building-from-israel-how-a-religious-community-took-root-in-ariel/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757526916/Jewishaction/Ariel-Israel-1/Ariel-Israel-1.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757526916/Jewishaction/Ariel-Israel-1/Ariel-Israel-1.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757526916/Jewishaction/Ariel-Israel-1/Ariel-Israel-1.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/education/", "name": "Education" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-world/israel/", "name": "Israel" }, { "uri": "/category/ou-programs/", "name": "OU Programs" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/outreach/", "name": "Outreach" } ] }, "title": "Snooker and Second Chances", "excerpt": "<p>How OU Israel&#8217;s Teen Center is changing young lives in Ariel</p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/snooker-and-second-chances/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757527047/Jewishaction/Ariel-Israel-Snooker/Ariel-Israel-Snooker.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757527047/Jewishaction/Ariel-Israel-Snooker/Ariel-Israel-Snooker.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757527047/Jewishaction/Ariel-Israel-Snooker/Ariel-Israel-Snooker.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/education/", "name": "Education" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/inspiration/", "name": "Inspiration" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-world/israel/", "name": "Israel" }, { "uri": "/category/ou-programs/", "name": "OU Programs" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/outreach/", "name": "Outreach" } ] }, "title": "Inside Ariel’s Jewish Campus Scene", "excerpt": "<p>&#8220;We want to let our students feel a part of the Israeli melody.&#8221;</p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/inside-ariels-jewish-campus-scene/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757527100/Jewishaction/Ariel-Israel-Campus/Ariel-Israel-Campus.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757527100/Jewishaction/Ariel-Israel-Campus/Ariel-Israel-Campus.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757527100/Jewishaction/Ariel-Israel-Campus/Ariel-Israel-Campus.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/cover-story/", "name": "Cover Story" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-living/", "name": "Jewish Living" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-society/", "name": "Jewish Society" } ] }, "title": "Building a Community: Pointers from the Pros", "excerpt": "<p>What do you need to build a community?</p>\n", "uri": "/cover-story/building-a-community-pointers-from-the-pros/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757527193/Jewishaction/Asking-Community-Builders/Asking-Community-Builders.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757527193/Jewishaction/Asking-Community-Builders/Asking-Community-Builders.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757527193/Jewishaction/Asking-Community-Builders/Asking-Community-Builders.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/jewish-world/history/", "name": "History" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/jewish-culture/", "name": "Jewish Culture" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/", "name": "Shabbat/Holidays" }, { "uri": "/category/shabbos/", "name": "Shabbos" }, { "uri": "/category/special-section/", "name": "Special Section" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/women/", "name": "Women" } ] }, "title": "The Artistry of Shabbat Lights", "excerpt": "<p>Explore the history of Shabbat candle lighting with this photo essay.</p>\n", "uri": "/special-section/the-artistry-of-shabbat-lights/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757523425/Jewishaction/Candlesticks-Photo-Essay/Candlesticks-Photo-Essay.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757523425/Jewishaction/Candlesticks-Photo-Essay/Candlesticks-Photo-Essay.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757523425/Jewishaction/Candlesticks-Photo-Essay/Candlesticks-Photo-Essay.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/religion/jewish-culture/", "name": "Jewish Culture" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/jewish-law/", "name": "Jewish Law" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/", "name": "Shabbat/Holidays" }, { "uri": "/category/shabbos/", "name": "Shabbos" }, { "uri": "/category/special-section/", "name": "Special Section" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/women/", "name": "Women" } ] }, "title": "Shabbat Candles: Halachot & Customs", "excerpt": "<p>The rabbinic mitzvah to mark the onset of Shabbat by lighting candles is an ancient and important halachah.</p>\n", "uri": "/special-section/shabbat-candles-halachot-customs/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524297/Jewishaction/Shabbat-Candles-Halachot-and-Customs/Shabbat-Candles-Halachot-and-Customs.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524297/Jewishaction/Shabbat-Candles-Halachot-and-Customs/Shabbat-Candles-Halachot-and-Customs.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524297/Jewishaction/Shabbat-Candles-Halachot-and-Customs/Shabbat-Candles-Halachot-and-Customs.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/life-ordeals/", "name": "Life Ordeals" }, { "uri": "/category/family/relationships/", "name": "Relationships" }, { "uri": "/category/shabbos/", "name": "Shabbos" }, { "uri": "/category/special-section/", "name": "Special Section" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/women/", "name": "Women" } ] }, "title": "The Shabbat Table That Found Me: Filling the Silence with Women’s Voices", "excerpt": "<p>None of us would have chosen this path. Yet somehow, in the aftermath of our greatest losses, we found each other.</p>\n", "uri": "/special-section/the-shabbat-table-that-found-me-filling-the-silence-with-womens-voices/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524460/Jewishaction/Shabbat-in-a-changed-Israel/Shabbat-in-a-changed-Israel.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524460/Jewishaction/Shabbat-in-a-changed-Israel/Shabbat-in-a-changed-Israel.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524460/Jewishaction/Shabbat-in-a-changed-Israel/Shabbat-in-a-changed-Israel.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/religion/inspiration/", "name": "Inspiration" }, { "uri": "/category/jewish-world/israel/", "name": "Israel" }, { "uri": "/category/life-ordeals/", "name": "Life Ordeals" }, { "uri": "/category/october-7/", "name": "October 7" }, { "uri": "/category/shabbos/", "name": "Shabbos" }, { "uri": "/category/special-section/", "name": "Special Section" } ] }, "title": "Shabbat in a Changed Israel: How Israelis Have Embraced Shabbat Since October 7", "excerpt": "<p>From the moment Agam was abducted from her army base in the Gaza Envelope on October 7, the rest of Meirav’s family joined her in keeping Shabbat. </p>\n", "uri": "/special-section/shabbat-in-a-changed-israel-how-israelis-have-embraced-shabbat-since-october-7/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524521/Jewishaction/Changed-israel-option-2/Changed-israel-option-2.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524521/Jewishaction/Changed-israel-option-2/Changed-israel-option-2.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524521/Jewishaction/Changed-israel-option-2/Changed-israel-option-2.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/jewish-society/", "name": "Jewish Society" }, { "uri": "/category/just-between-us/", "name": "Just Between Us" }, { "uri": "/category/opinion/", "name": "Opinion" }, { "uri": "/category/family/relationships/", "name": "Relationships" } ] }, "title": "All the Lonely People", "excerpt": "<p>During my formative years, separation and divorce were taboo topics—no one spoke about them.</p>\n", "uri": "/just-between-us/all-the-lonely-people/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524592/Jewishaction/All-the-lonely-people/All-the-lonely-people.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524592/Jewishaction/All-the-lonely-people/All-the-lonely-people.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524592/Jewishaction/All-the-lonely-people/All-the-lonely-people.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/food/kashrut/", "name": "Kashrut" }, { "uri": "/category/ou-programs/", "name": "OU Programs" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/women/", "name": "Women" } ] }, "title": "From Kashering Boards to Cookie Factories: Inside a Groundbreaking Kashrus Program for Women ", "excerpt": "<p>&#8220;When an ad for the ASK OU Summer 2025 Women’s Kashruth Experience caught my eye, I was intrigued and applied to join the program.&#8221;</p>\n", "uri": "/food/kashrut/from-kashering-boards-to-cookie-factories-inside-a-groundbreaking-kashrus-program-for-women/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524661/Jewishaction/Kosher-Kopy/Kosher-Kopy.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524661/Jewishaction/Kosher-Kopy/Kosher-Kopy.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524661/Jewishaction/Kosher-Kopy/Kosher-Kopy.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/food/recipes/", "name": "Recipes" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/rosh-hashanah/", "name": "Rosh Hashanah" } ] }, "title": "An Apple a Day . . . Recipes for the High Holidays", "excerpt": "<p>Some delicious ways to incorporate apples in your menus and holiday table</p>\n", "uri": "/food/recipes/an-apple-a-day-recipes-for-the-high-holidays/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524728/Jewishaction/An-Apple-a-Day-Keeps-the-Doctor-Away/An-Apple-a-Day-Keeps-the-Doctor-Away.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524728/Jewishaction/An-Apple-a-Day-Keeps-the-Doctor-Away/An-Apple-a-Day-Keeps-the-Doctor-Away.jpg?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757524728/Jewishaction/An-Apple-a-Day-Keeps-the-Doctor-Away/An-Apple-a-Day-Keeps-the-Doctor-Away.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/religion/", "name": "Religion" }, { "uri": "/category/books/reviews-in-briefs/", "name": "Reviews in Brief" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/tanach/", "name": "Tanach" } ] }, "title": "Reviews in Brief – Fall 2025", "excerpt": "<p>Jewish Customs: Exploring Common and Uncommon Minhagim; Al HaRishonim Ve’Al Ha’Acharonim; Mastering the Mind: A Guide to Focused Learning and Torah Retention  </p>\n", "uri": "/books/reviews-in-briefs/reviews-in-brief-fall-2025/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_146,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1734103884/Jewishaction/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif.png?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_1024,h_497,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1734103884/Jewishaction/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif.png?_i=AA 1024w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_768,h_372,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1734103884/Jewishaction/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif.png?_i=AA 768w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_1536,h_745,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1734103884/Jewishaction/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif.png?_i=AA 1536w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_2048,h_993,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1734103884/Jewishaction/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif.png?_i=AA 2048w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1734103884/Jewishaction/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif/Newsletter_reviewsinbreif.png?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/religion/faith/", "name": "Faith" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/jewish-culture/", "name": "Jewish Culture" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/jewish-thought/", "name": "Jewish Thought" }, { "uri": "/category/books/reviews/", "name": "Reviews" }, { "uri": "/category/science-technology/", "name": "Science & Technology" } ] }, "title": "Articles of Faith: Traditional Jewish Belief in the Internet Era", "excerpt": "<p>Halachic Judaism, Rabbi Student suggests, may well have been brought into its democratic age thanks to the internet’s ubiquity . . . </p>\n", "uri": "/books/reviews/articles-of-faith-traditional-jewish-belief-in-the-internet-era/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_300,c_fill,g_auto/f_auto,q_auto/v1757525372/Jewishaction/Author-Posters-Fall-2025/Author-Posters-Fall-2025.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_1024,h_1024,c_fill,g_auto/f_auto,q_auto/v1757525372/Jewishaction/Author-Posters-Fall-2025/Author-Posters-Fall-2025.jpg?_i=AA 1024w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_150,h_150,c_fill,g_auto/f_auto,q_auto/v1757525372/Jewishaction/Author-Posters-Fall-2025/Author-Posters-Fall-2025.jpg?_i=AA 150w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_768,h_768,c_fill,g_auto/f_auto,q_auto/v1757525372/Jewishaction/Author-Posters-Fall-2025/Author-Posters-Fall-2025.jpg?_i=AA 768w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757525372/Jewishaction/Author-Posters-Fall-2025/Author-Posters-Fall-2025.jpg?_i=AA 1080w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757525372/Jewishaction/Author-Posters-Fall-2025/Author-Posters-Fall-2025.jpg?_i=AA" } } }, { "categories": { "nodes": [ { "uri": "/category/religion/faith/", "name": "Faith" }, { "uri": "/category/holocaust/", "name": "Holocaust" }, { "uri": "/category/lasting-impressions/", "name": "Lasting Impressions" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/rosh-hashanah/", "name": "Rosh Hashanah" }, { "uri": "/category/synagogue-prayer/", "name": "Synagogue & Prayer" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/women/", "name": "Women" }, { "uri": "/category/religion/shabbat-holidays/yom-kippur/", "name": "Yom Kippur" } ] }, "title": "The High Holidays of My Youth", "excerpt": "<p>In that tiny shul, the prayers of survivors hung heavy in the air. </p>\n", "uri": "/lasting-impressions/the-high-holidays-of-my-youth/", "featuredImage": { "node": { "srcSet": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/w_300,h_120,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1758036810/Jewishaction/HH-of-My-Youth/HH-of-My-Youth.png?_i=AA 300w, https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758036810/Jewishaction/HH-of-My-Youth/HH-of-My-Youth.png?_i=AA 600w", "sizes": "(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px", "altText": "", "sourceUrl": "https://res.cloudinary.com/ouwp/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758036810/Jewishaction/HH-of-My-Youth/HH-of-My-Youth.png?_i=AA" } } } ] } }
Volume # 86

Fall 2025 (5786)

In this issue
Where Is Tennessee?
Cover Story

Where Is Tennessee?

Far from the frum frenzy, one newly Southern Jew reflects on finding home—and herself—deep in the heart of Memphis. 

Reviews in Brief – Fall 2025
Religion

Reviews in Brief – Fall 2025

Jewish Customs: Exploring Common and Uncommon Minhagim; Al HaRishonim Ve’Al Ha’Acharonim; Mastering the Mind: A Guide to Focused Learning and Torah Retention  

Issue