Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue
January 23, 2023
“Action is the only remedy to indifference: the most insidious danger of all.” — Eli Weisel This week, we remember the tireless equity work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and we will celebrate Black history month in February. During these specified days and always, we...
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Greening Chanukkah
December 2, 2022
Daylight hours are waning, the cold is settling in, and I am reminded of a story in Tractate Avodah Zarah (Babylonian Talmud) in which our rabbis speak of Adam, the first person ever created, who experienced this season for the first time: Because Adam,...
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Every Child Deserves Cheerleaders and Coaches
November 14, 2022
When I first became a classroom teacher, I was only 22 years old and a real newbie. I was assigned to an inclusive 5th-grade public school classroom where I immediately learned the importance of constant contact with parents, and especially about the value of conferences....
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The Blessing at the End of the Story
October 19, 2022
Have you ever read a story, watched a film or maybe taken a trip where at the end of that story, film or trip, you are not the same person you were at the beginning? Something in that experience left you different, more awake, more...
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The Hard Work of Tshuvah (Righting Mistakes)
September 30, 2022
Aren’t we fortunate that Judaism gives us an annual opportunity to begin with a clean slate? But acquiring that clean slate takes the hard work of tshuvah, apologizing for both intentional and unintentional wrongdoings. For Eric and me, it was important to raise our children...
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Banned Books Offer Windows and Mirrors
September 19, 2022
There is nothing new about book banning. As early as the 13th century, books have been censored by totalitarians seeking to oppress free speech. In 1933, Nazis burned books, many written by Jewish intellectuals, at libraries and universities. Isn’t it erie to see book bans...
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Joyful Engagement
September 6, 2022
I’m pretty sure I have spoken with every single child at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. I know what books they are reading and their favorite Paw Patrol episodes. Older students have shared details about their experience at overnight camp, their love for a specific class, and...
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A Blessing… for New Beginnings
August 22, 2022
I learned something from Stella, our 5th-grade Torah reader this week. She taught us that in this week’s parsha, the Torah instructs us that we must show gratitude for the food we have eaten, and pause to recite a blessing after meals. Those words of...
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Look for the Wind
May 31, 2022
I like to look for the wind. I realize that you can’t actually SEE wind, but you can see its impact on things that ARE visible. You can see the wind in treetops swaying, in leaves rustling, in waves dancing on a lake to make...
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The Meaning Behind the Words
May 20, 2022
When you recite Mah Tovu, the Barechu or even the Shema, what do you think about? Do you say the words without really knowing their intention? If so, you likely have much in common with the person sitting next to you in services. At Mirowitz, your children learn how...
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