October - 2016

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Why Text Study?

As Jews we are often known as “People of the Book,” an appropriate title. After the destruction of Second Temple and subsequent exile, religious sacrifices became impossible and Jewish life turned to Torah study for spiritual connection to the Almighty. The Torah, the Talmud and many other Jewish writings are important sources of Jewish history and religious inspiration. In many ways, Judaism is a religion dependent upon scriptural interpretation and communal debate. This is

Breast Cancer and the Jewish Peoplehood: What to Know

Every year, the United States recognizes October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). As the month comes to a close, here are five facts regarding breast cancer awareness and the Jewish peoplehood to keep into account all year long. 1. Ashkenazi Jewish women have an increased genetic susceptibility to breast cancer. Research supports that Ashkenazi Jewish women stand at an increased risk of contracting breast cancer in their lifetime. This stems from hereditary

Judaism and Voting: A Right of Passage

Growing up, Judaism consistently stresses that we exist, above all else, as a community. We then encounter countless “right of passage” experiences to usher us into our community. I, probably like many others, sometimes reflect on these experiences from a completely material perspective. I can recall the tiling of my hebrew school’s floors, the song blasting en route to my bat mitzvah reception, and so on and so forth. Bluntly stated, there’s no denying that focusing on the m

Yom Kippur: To Each His Own

Five weeks into my study abroad program, last year Yom Kippur began on the evening of September 22nd. Of my closest friends on the program, only one also identified as Jewish. Though thousands of miles from home, we decided to follow the same procedure of fasting and break-fasting, while embracing that the celebration would deviate from years prior. Instead of spending the day at synagogue with family in our hometow ns, we spent the day reflecting and relaxing, while Netflix