With the number of Jews opting for cremation unfortunately on the rise, one never knows when he or she might be able to help another Jew choose a traditional Jewish burial over cremation. Do you know a Jew who is considering cremation? If so, here is an uncomplicated approach that might succeed in changing someone’s mind.
When American Orthodoxy was in its infancy, well before the day school movement, the idealistic, energetic women of the OU Women’s Branch persevered to build and strengthen religious life amidst significant challenges.
Even amid routine practices, on occasion we find ourselves acting by rote, lacking a freshness in our spiritual lives.
The best way to identify a good topic is to select something you would want to hear about. Simply ask yourself, “What topic would I like to hear discussed and how would I want to hear it presented?”
The main thing is just to start and not be worried about understanding and retaining everything the first time around. The more you learn the more you’ll understand and remember later on.
When you speak to someone on the telephone, for instance, you may not know what the individual looks like but you can certainly speak with him. So why can’t you talk to Hakadosh Baruch Hu even though His presence is hidden?
It’s important to keep in mind that davening from the amud is not a performance.
God is our constant companion. He’s a member of our family, He’s a member of our office space, He’s a member of our social circle. He’s a companion in our lives wherever we go and in whatever we do.
Your guests might span the spectrum of Jewry. . . . It has to be okay with you. Just know that each guest around your table is a Jew who wants to experience the beauty of Shabbos—and you are helping him or her do that.
Our guiding principle for bikkur cholim—as chaplains, rabbis or people in the community—is this: when in doubt, show up.