Paula Jacobs is a writer in the Boston area.
The oldest synagogue painting of its kind in North America finds a new home
In the aftermath of Oct. 7 and the war in Gaza, campers and staffers alike will be addressing Israel and antisemitism in new ways
New initiatives aim to preserve Sephardic culture and language for Jewish students
A recent vote found overwhelming halachic support for medical marijuana—and narrower, qualified support for recreational use
Outreach efforts aimed at Sephardim help connect people to their culture and history across the world
Even though in-person services have resumed, synagogues across the country say remote options are here to stay
Non-Orthodox seminaries try to adapt to changing communal needs—and shrinking enrollment
From day schools to summer camps, charter schools to online classes, a diverse range of students are studying the language
Wimpels have been used as ritual objects by German-speaking Jews for centuries, but these days in the U.S., the Torah binders have become part of new traditions in a wide variety of Jewish communities
As students’ needs have increased during the pandemic, Chabads and Hillels have stepped up their response
Jewish communities in northern New England’s small towns find ways to attract more participants from diverse backgrounds
Community groups educate Jews about organ donation
The lines within and between denominations are shifting, blurring, and being crossed more frequently
Jewish institutions go beyond traditional notions of what makes meat kosher to address everything from climate change to animal welfare to workers’ rights
As the pandemic evolves, synagogues scramble to adjust their High Holiday services to accommodate shifting risks and expectations
Young Jews are organizing in an effort to preserve Sephardic culture in America
Virtual classes attract a new generation of students, from a wide variety of places
Synagogues have made changes to their educational programs. Which changes will endure once life gets back to normal?