Summer 2008

Columns

Letters to the Editor

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s DR. RAYMOND B. GOLDSTEIN on Empty Fields

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism’s CORY R. SCHNEIDER on Keeping the Wonder Alive

Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs’ NORM KURTZ on The Other Continent

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s RABBI JEROME M. EPSTEIN on Why We Care About Israel

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism’s ANN GOLDMAN on Creating a Jewish Constant

Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs’ RABBI CHARLES E. SIMON on Creating Inclusion for Adult Children

Celebrating Israel

As the state of Israel celebrates the 6Oth anniversary of its founding, we look at how it has evolved.

Happy Birthday Israel
ALICE GREENFIELD looks back at the day that Israel’s declaration of independence was signed and invites us to keep Israel in our hearts today

Reflecting Israel
Photographs by ITAI MONNICKENDAM and text by JOANNE PALMER catch some of Israel’s serene beauty

Is Gun-Running a Job for a Nice Jewish Boy?
DR. A.I. WEINZWEIG looks back at his adventures smuggling guns to Palestine

Making a Personal Contribution to Israel's Defense
MARK WERNER writes about his stints volunteering on military bases in Israel

Why I Made Aliyah
RABBI DAVID GOLINKIN describes how his family’s ideals turned him into an Israeli

Are Jews Obligated to Make Aliyah?
MATT PLEN argues that the answer is yes

Masorti Today
RABBI REUVEN HAMMER considers the state of the Masorti movement; he sees wonderful progress despite serious obstacles

Women Rabbis in Israel
JANE CALEM ROSEN introduces four women who reflect the face of today’s Masorti movement

Lying to Get Married
RABBI PAUL ARBERMAN faced a dilemma when a couple asked him to lie for shalom bayit

A Moment to Celebrate
DR. ARNOLD EISEN explores Conservative Jews’ relationship to Israel

Shaping Tomorrow
RABBI BRADLEY SHAVIT ARTSON considers the ways in which Jews in the diaspora and in Israel need each other

The Greening of Israel
BONNIE RIVA RAS explains how environmentalism and Judaism go hand in hand, particularly in Israel

Old Wars, New Battles
DIANE FRIEDGUT spotlights ongoing issues for women in Israel

Hazak 2008 Mission to Israel
BERNARD NEWMAN describes a United Synagogue trip

Articles

Why I Am A Conservative Jew
DR. JEROME GROOPMAN describes the characteristics of Conservative Judaism that most appeal to him

The Bookshelf
RABBI NEIL GILLMAN’s capsule reviews look at influential books about Israel

Justice & Judaism: Community Organizing in the Conservative Movement
DANIEL MAY and PETER DREIER investigate a social action agenda and what it can do for a Conservative synagogue’s sense of community

FJMC Mission to South America
RICHARD GRAY, BRUCE SICHERMAN, and MICHAEL ABADI are enthusiastic about Masorti in South America

World Wide Wrap Live
GARY SMITH describes a multivenue FJMC tefillin program

Koach Kallah
ABRAHAM L. FRIED-TANZER writes about college students, the Conservative movement, and Koach

Revisiting Eve
DR. ANNE LAPIDUS LERNER traces the history of the Bible’s first woman