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Jewish Conversation or Competition?

The women at Beth Emek asked me for a program on Jewish conversations. With the excellent suggestions from their leader this is what we came up with. Note: you can request a program for your synagogue or Jewish group that is shaped to your interests and needs.   Jewish Conversation or Competition? Do you ever…

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Don’t Orthodox Jews HAVE to fast on Yom Kippur?

Some Jews are commanded NOT TO FAST. Thus, the local Orthodox shul, Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland, has sent out this reminder to their members several times in the last couple weeks. Location for Medically Required Food and Nursing Mothers: While the holiest day of the year involves five forms of physical restriction (see below for…

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My boyfriend is an atheist and I’m a believer

Dear Dawn: You wrote previously about a couple where one partner is Jewish and the other claims to be an atheist. But the atheist still had “warm” feelings for his church. My boyfriend is a true atheist and dislikes all religion. He doesn’t have any warm memories of community or shared holidays. He thinks religion is just…

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