By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Do you think two Jews should have the right to marry? This is not a trick question. I’m not asking about LGBTQ marriages or anything controversial (at least, not yet). What I want to know is simple: Are you willing to risk that a governmental official will refuse…
By Shelley Hubal
It’s called “My Unsung Hero.” NPR describes these mini-podcasts as “Stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression.” I like to listen to one or two episodes in the morning while I exercise. Each story is a reminder that every individual and every act …
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Friday, February 24, was a particularly difficult day. A friend texted me that her grandson had had another seizure. Fortunately, he was fine after a short visit to the hospital, but his parents and grandparents are still shaken and upset. Shortly after, I learned t…
By Bill Simons
“Go down, Moses, / Way down in Egypt land, / Tell old Pharaoh, / Let my people go.”
Those words sung by Black slaves in the American South possess a double meaning. It recounts the Exodus narrative of Hebrew enslavement and eventual emancipation in Egypt. The spiritual …
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Although specific groups in the United States may have always had an interest in ethnic studies, most formal programs only began to flourish during the late 1960s, particularly in colleges and universities. The Judaic Studies Department at Binghamton University bega…
