Category Archives: Heartfelt Judaism

May 4, 2012 / 12 Iyar, 5772 Looking into Kaplan’s Diary Mordecai M. Kaplan (1881-1983) was ordained at JTS and served as a member of its faculty for over fifty years. All the major leaders of the Conservative movement were … Continue reading →

April 20, 2012 / 28 Nisan, 5772 Parashat Sh’mini Shabbat Machar Hodesh I Samuel 20:18-42 This week’s Haftarah connects not to Parashat Sh’mini, the selection from the Torah for this week, but to the arrival of the Hebrew month of … Continue reading →

Pesach VIII Song of Songs On the 8th day of Pesakh, we read the Song of Songs (Shir haShirim) as part of the morning service. It is a truly unique book in the Tanakh. Its poetry, its extended use of … Continue reading →

This story was originally published in CJ:Kolot Voices of Conservative/Masorti Judaism and won a Rockower award from the American Jewish Press Association, placing first in the personal essay category. According to the AJPA, it is “an emotionally wrenching, theologically insightful, beautifully written … Continue reading →

The settlement movement is an existential threat to the State of Israel.  With many in Israel and the United States complacent with on-going settler activity, the expansion of settlements moves us toward a precipice.  A two state solution is necessary … Continue reading →

How do you remember something really important? Is there a particular action or item that you use to help you remember? If you ask a young child this question, they will probably say that they tell their parents. Other people … Continue reading →

Ezekiel 36:16-38 This Shabbat, is the third of four special Shabbatot prior to Pesach. It is called Shabbat Parah. The Haftarah, taken from the prophecies of Ezekiel, is a little strange. That is to be expected coming from the prophet … Continue reading →

March 2, 2012 / 8 Adar, 5772 Parashat Tetzaveh Ezekiel 43:10-27 La-y’hudim hay’tah orah v’simhah v’sason kikar. Ken tih’yeh lanu. Blessings of light, gladness, joy and honor. Since attending and participating in a community wide Havdallah service months ago here … Continue reading →

In early June My wife Rochelle and I took a vacation in Costa Rica. We left for home on a Tuesday but the day before we had an appointment to visit the Masorti synagogue in the Costa Rican capital San … Continue reading →

Editors Note: Each week for the past three years FJMC has been distributing a Haftarah commentary called “The Unraveller” (a link to their archive is on this page). Going forward MENTSCHEN will post each issue of “The Unraveller” for your … Continue reading →