The westernmost member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
5780 Passover Seders: Tradition and Technology
By Mathew Sgan
Isolation during Passover was on my mind. Then the heavens opened up and it was Dayenu all over again. First, Dina gave me the directions to tune in to her seder (Hawaii time 7:00 PM.) To celebrate… Continue reading
Parshat Tzav: A Drash
By Sid Goldstein
“Such are the rituals of the burnt offering, the meal offering, the guilt offering, the offering of ordination and the sacrifice of well-being which the Lord charged Moses on Mount Sinai.”
– Leviticus 8.37
One of… Continue reading
An Embarrassment to Jews the World Over
by Kay Lorraine
I am an embarrassment to Jews the world over. I know this to be true, because a cantor in Chicago made this statement in my presence, loudly, to a large group of Jewish women.
Let me explain:… Continue reading
Honey and Poi The Modern Years: 2000-2016
BY MAT SGAN
A New Century Brings Good News
As Sof headed into the turn of the century, good news predominated. The balance sheet, led by dues, donations and cookbook sales, indicated some $39,000 in income. This enabled Sof to… Continue reading
What You Don’t Know About Dreidels
Rabbi Elihu Saffron
Jewish Studies and Stories
Reprinted by Permission
Perhaps you’ve joined in a game of dreidel – you spin the top, and depending where it lands, collect your riches (usually in the form of chocolate candy, called gelt).… Continue reading
Toledo: The Tale of Two Synagogues
By Kay Lorraine
After the expulsion of the Jews at the end of the 15th century, eight of Toledo’s ten synagogues and its five Talmudic schools were destroyed. The two remaining synagogues in Toledo are no longer used for… Continue reading
The Last Jews in Grenada
by Kay Lorraine
In August and September of this year, my husband and I rented a car and traveled throughout Spain, soaking up the culture (and some fine food). I knew, of course, about the Spanish Inquisition but I was… Continue reading