DJC Blog

Alicia – Emily’s House Youth HospiceSee poster below: Sasha – Ranger Stewardship project at High ParkHigh Park is special because it’s a haven of green in a concrete jungle that provides a respite from city life. I know this because, for my Tikkun Olam project, I’m working with a stewardship program called the High Park […]

The Kabbalists of Tzfat, the mystical thinkers of the 16th century, saw the world as intricately connected through the Eitz Chayim (Tree of Life). They understood this tree as a metaphor for the Torah and the human soul. Just as a tree is composed of roots, a trunk, branches, and fruit, so too does the soul possess levels of connection and expression: The roots represent our foundational values and spiritual grounding The trunk symbolizes our inner strength, the ability to st

I’ve been reflecting on endings and beginnings as we anticipate the start of a six-week ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas tomorrow. This agreement holds the promise of bringing 33 Israeli hostages home. Alongside reflection, I find myself praying – praying for what will unfold in the weeks ahead.

The Hebrew month of Kislev will begin in a few days, and as we prepare to enter this new month on the Jewish calendar, my family is also counting down to a deeply meaningful milestone: Joel’s Bar Mitzvah

The DJC is hosting a three-part speaker series featuring Jewish and Palestinian scholars who will explore the narratives shaping modern Israel/Palestine. Speakers include Michael Soberman from the iCenter; Raja Khouri and Jeffrey Wilkinson, authors of The Wall Between: What Jews and Palestinians Don’t Want to Know About Each Other; and Derek Penslar, Harvard Professor of Jewish Studies and the author of Zionism: An Emotional State.

Love is the foundation of all Jewish values and practices. When we delve into Torah through this lens, the text begins to reveal itself as a divine call toward empathy, connection, and compassion. Each mitzvah becomes an opportunity to expand our hearts, to move beyond self-interest, and to embrace a life marked by kindness, patience, and a profound respect for the dignity of every person.

Nearly 100 DJC community members gathered to sing, cry, grieve, mourn, remember, and mark the day with a Yahrzeit candle. We ended by singing Hatikvah, full-throated, wiping away tears, holding onto one another. If you were there, you know how powerful the experience was for you, for me, and everyone in attendance. If you were not there, well, I wish you had been

Have you ever loved something so much that you wished it would happen for the first time again? Let Rosh Hashanah be that for you. And what a beginning it will be at the DJC. Let our tefillot (worship services) move you, providing comfort and inspiring you to new ways of thinking, being, and action. Hear the cry of the shofar.

Six murdered hostages. Six Israelis. Six beautiful souls. I, like you, am heartbroken and filled with grief and anger. Today, I have no words of uplift, no silver lining to offer to my community. It’s ok to mourn and cry and wail. It’s ok right now to sit in this grief and anger. As Yossi Klein Halevi said in his recent podcast “There is the sense of being in a nightmare that just keeps getting deeper and a feeling of loss of control and also rage, tremendous rage.” But…when

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The Jewish middah called Hakarat Hatov is about Noticing the Good in life (aka “an attitude of gratitude”). This soul work is an important emotional, mental, and spiritual stance that can help frame our relationship with ourselves, other people, animals, and our planet. It does not come easily to many of us. With so much happening in our world right now, how much more so is this challenging work. AND: how much more so is it vital at this time.

Thank you to everyone who came to our recent community conversation. We had a tremendous response and are grateful to the organizing committee, participants and to our volunteer facilitators. These conversations weren’t easy. We witnessed deep listening, patience, respect, compassion, and gratitude for the opportunity to come together and share our views and emotions as a community. We were struck by the beauty of seeing firsthand how the DJC continues to be a place where div

Hundreds of people descended onto lower Manhattan to protest outside an exhibit called “The Moment the Music Stood Still,” about the attack on the Nova Music Festival on October 7th where 364 people were murdered by Hamas. I am not often at a loss for words but find myself dumbfounded at this news.

It was announced a few days ago that four Israeli hostages who were held captive in Gaza are confirmed dead. It has been 242 days since October 7th and since these individuals and hundreds of others were abducted. How does one compute and begin to understand 242 days of living as a hostage? How much longer will the remaining hostages be in Gaza under Hamas rule?

This is a pivotal time to contribute your skills and creativity to strengthening the DJC. Along with the Rabbi and the staff leadership team, Board members provide leadership and strategic direction to ensure the DJC’s health, vitality, organizational effectiveness, governance, and financial stability. Board members are appointed for two-year terms and can serve a maximum of three consecutive terms.

Sheryl Sandberg’s new documentary is called “Screams Before Silence.” Let us bear witness to what happened on October 7. Also, please join your DJC community on June 13 for a Community Conversation where we explore our recent Israel Survey findings.

In March 2023, the DJC Accessibility Committee set out its priorities for improving accessibility for people with disabilities at the DJC. During the past year, the Committee, Board, and staff made significant progress in removing barriers at the DJC.

I have two offerings today for our community. The first is about the beautiful program the DJC hosted last week with The Parents Circle – Family Forum, which is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization comprising of nearly 800 bereaved families who have lost close family members to the conflict.

In early 2023, I had a conversation with DJC member Alan Gotlib (exemplary human being/lay leader/dedicated volunteer) about my desire to see a clothing and accessory line in the marketplace proudly representing Judaism. To my great delight and surprise, Alan crafted a hat for me that perfectly matched my vision: a white cap with the letters “JEW” embroidered in two shades of blue, boldly proclaiming my identity. He presented it to me on Yom Kippur. Thirteen days later: Octob

Pesach 5784 begins in five days and it is clear to all of us that our sedarim will feel different than last year. How could they not? How might we consider what additions to bring to the table to supplement our usual haggadot? Should we bring new readings or poems to speak to the matzav (“situation”)? How about additional items to the seder plate? And is all of this kosher (by that I mean, OK)?