Charles R. Krivcher. Personal reflection of a High Holy Day encounter with a mirror that led to an epiphany regarding the author’s relationship with God and personal responsibility in prayer. Fall 2011.

Dalia Marx. As we approach the Days of Awe, we can take three paths to forgiveness: focusing on the injured, on the injurer, or—ideally and most challenging—on the relationship between them. Fall 2011.

How Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City created a special Rosh Hashanah service that was greatly valued by Jews with special needs and their families; includes tips. Summer 2011.

Russ Levine. Upon reflection and action, the author comes to rethink tashlich - not as a contrived solution to bring absolution of sin, but as a challenge from God. Fall 2010.

Maxine Sukenik and Steve Friedman. A debate between two temple presidents, each of whose congregation has chosen a different path. Fall 2009.

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills and Congregation Or Chadash in Damascus, MD are engaging congregants in discussing their stories as well as their hopes and dreams for the New Year. Summer 2009.

An exploration of the music of Kol Nidre in different communities and times. Fall 2007.

Steven Schnur. A reflection on entering the synagogue on the High Holy Days and "staring at the undeniable alteration a single year has wrought upon the familiar landscape of family and friends." Fall 2004.

In anticipation of the coming New Year, Schimmel discusses what Judaism can teach us about forgiveness. Fall 2004.

Marge Eiseman. How Bibliodrama, art, writing, and "Holigames" about the High Holidays enthralled the children of Congregation Sinai in Milwaukee. Fall 2001.

Mary Ann Sternberg. The author, a visitor in southern Montana attending Rosh Hashanah services at Congregation Beth Shalom of Bozeman, is moved by the holiness evoked - at the local Comfort Inn! Fall 2001.

Harold Schulweis. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: they are linked together, yet contradictory. Each speaks with a different voice, expresses different attitudes, and teaches different lessons. Fall 1997

Toby Sonneman. A cultural history of the etrog from its earliest days through the present, the article also offers information on etrog selection and how we bless it. Fall 2003

Tina D. Wasserman. Understanding gluten-free foods, plus two gluten-free Chanukah recipes: Sweet Potato and Carrot Latkes and Sweet Potato Spiced Sufganyot. Winter 2011.

Jonathan Greenstein. Appraising a menorah with a Star of David motif. Winter 2011.

Judith Richlin-Klonsky. Every year, each of us gets a chance to be Judah Maccabee. Winter 2010.

Andi Rosenthal. From "Vodka & Latkes" to "Chanuplex", the variety of Reform congregational programs that are shining a creative light on Chanukah. Winter 2008.

Rabbi Manuel Gold. Why it took 600 years after the Maccabees recaptured the Temple for the story of the miraculous jar of oil to emerge. Winter 2008.

Jenna Weissman Joselit. In the late 1800s, Chanukah almost disappeared from the American Jewish landscape...but thanks to cultural ingenuity, it's come back strong. A cultural exploration of the fall and rise of the holiday. Winter 2008.

Michael L. Feshbach. The Maccabees came up with the quintessential survival strategy that has kept the Jewish people from extinction. Winter 2008.

Beth Friedman & Amy Soul. Two Reform Jews share innovative approaches to illuminating Chanukah at home. Winter 2008.

William Squier. A thoughtful reflection on the question of Christmas celebration in an interfaith marriage. Winter 2007.

Michelle Golland. A Jew-by-choice negotiates Chanukah vs. Christmas gift-wrapping with her family, a "war" more about love, respect, and celebrating differences. Winter 2006.

Bruce Feiler. How the author's journey through an ancient land taught him more than he knew about the Maccabees and helped him view Chanukah in a new light. Includes wonderful synopsis of the Chanukah story. Winter 2005.

Joshua Eli Plaut. Christmas has become a prism through which Jews can see themselves; a history of the Jews' relationship to Christmas. Winter 2004.

Cooking with oil during Chanukah reminds us symbolically that we can prevail over our persecutors through the power of our faith in God. Recipes: "Corn Fritters," Potato Pancakes or Kugel," and "Applesauce." Tina D. Wasserman. Winter 2004.

Nancy M. Berman. Text and visual representation of six uniquely crafted Hanukkah lamps from the 16th century to the present. Winter 2003.

Judy B. Shanks. Rabbi Shanks offers a nuanced response. Winter 2002.

An introduction to the range of Reform Jewish thinking on celebrating Jewish holidays and observing Shabbat. Summer 2008.

Karen Gall. What happens when a woman tries to take a large shofar as carry-on and is met by seven non-Jewish airport security guards. Fall 2010.

Mike Rankin. The author remembers his favorite Passover: On a U.S. Naval base in Japan, a 5-year-old boy named David Horoshi Cohen chants the 4 questions in 3 languages. Spring 2009.

Leigh Lerner. The author remembers his most poignant Passover: On a cold Minnesota night, a man appears and he knows that Elijah has arrived. Spring 2009.

Edythe Held Mencher. Taking the time in advance to figure out the particular needs of your seder guests can avert the "11th plague" and make Passover the joyful occasion you wish it to be. Spring 2009.

Rabbi Simeon J. Maslin. What the prophet Elijah has to do with Passover, and the little-known fifth cup of wine. Spring 2008.

Jenna Weissman Joselit. A cultural history of how matzah, the unleavened bread which the Israelites ate before leaving Egypt for the Promised Land, has weathered gastronomic trends, mass production, and fickle palates to claim its place on supermarket shelves throughout North America. Spring 2005.

Jean Bloch Rosensaft. Text and presentation of artful Passover seder plates from 15th century Spain to 21st century America. Spring 2004

Ralph D. Mecklenburger. A cultural exploration of the Jewish family tradition whereby the door is opened on Passover to find gifts from Elijah. Spring 2003.

Faith Joy Dantowitz. Utilizing the seder as a springboard for posing questions about Jewish values and traditions. Spring 2000.

Sonia Levitin. "For thousands of years, Jews have celebrated personal Purims to mark deliverance from danger. Now so do I, after a freeway incident almost took my life." Spring 2010.

Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer. Evening programs of dancing and singing to Chasidic-style gospel sounds with lyrics and prayers projected on a large screen; Jewish indie movies; yoga; "Kids' Club"; intergenerational dinners; crafts; puppetry/storytelling service; and more innovative ways to celebrate Shabbat. Winter 2008.

Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie. In this adaptation from his Biennial address, the URJ president calls for approaching Shabbat with creativity, expanding our understanding of "rest," and defining "work" in new ways. Spring 2008.

Wendy Hilsen-Bernard. "As Jews, we have been given the perfect venue for cultivating abounding peace: Shabbat." The author offers three suggestions for weaving the Shabbat spirit into the fabric of our lives. Spring 2007.

C.L. Bell. Winter 2003. In PDF format.

Rabbi Harold Schulweis. How Shabbat can revitalize our personal connections, romance, and intimacy. Spring 1998.

Mark S. Glickman. How Congregation Kol Ami in Woodinville, Washington turned the dropping of a Torah scroll during Simchat Torah into an opportunity for community-wide reflection. Spring 2008.