A few Jewish friends who happen to work in Jewish organizations have recently said on Facebook that they have received the anti-Semitic robocall that’s going around. Rabbi Milder of Congregation Beth Emek in Pleasanton was one of them and I’m sharing what he wrote to his congregation. I got the call. When I arrived…
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This article originally appears in the J weekly in April of 2017. I am a member of a Conservative synagogue that I love. We recently, as a movement, chose to welcome non-Jewish spouses as members of our synagogues. I worked hard for this and I believe it is the right thing to do. But I…
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A Mixed and Matched column first published in the J weekly March of 2017. My boyfriend was raised Presbyterian and is agnostic now. I feel like a lot of Jews are agnostic and he should be comfortable in a synagogue. However, when we go to shul, I feel like the people are not as warm…
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With the new availability of DNA research many people are finding that they have some Jewish ancestry. I’ve gotten quite a few emails asking, “Am I Jewish?” And some stating, “I just found out I’m Jewish.” It isn’t that simple. Recently Rabbi Milder of Beth Emek wrote a useful post to help clarify Jewish…
Read More »We are reeling from the events in Charlottesville. Across the Jewish community clergy and laypeople are moved to words and actions. Here are some from the Bay Area. Cantor Chabon, B’nai Tikvah, Walnut Creek The older I get, the more I understand that living a fulfilling life depends on how we respond to the joys…
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Rabbi Milder is a Reform rabbi who challenges his congregants to think about whether and how they might keep kosher for Passover. He sent them this delightful guide. Three Stages of Kashering for Pesach Deciding how kosher to be for Pesach is a distinctly Reform concern. If one is traditionally observant, the rules, extensive as…
Read More »Our weekly email goes out to hundreds of interfaith couples & families in the Bay Area. Topics cover the many questions and mysteries that interfaith couples want answered.