In November of 1999, Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski published a book entitled, “It’s Not As Tough At Home As You Think.” On page 2, he writes, “Earlier this century the average life span was under forty. Today it is twice that…In 1917 the flu epidemic killed hundreds of thousands of people. Today, with antibiotics and vaccines, major epidemics are rare.”
The Kiruv Movement fails to take advantage of the valuable studies done on the Jewish community at the cost of tens of millions of dollars. Many of these studies point to practical programming opportunities that would change and upgrade the way we do Kiruv. One common denominator to all studies is that most Jews – even intermarried ones
There is a vast gap between establishing a goal for Kiruv and measuring that goal. Hence, there is a difference between the question “what is the goal of Kiruv” and the question “what comprises success in kiruv?” Moreover, what is
In my last article, I shared insights from a group of leaders about how to position ourselves and our nonprofits for coronavirus and “disaster-proof” our lives moving forward. This post follows along the same theme and highlights the insights of some powerful coaches. How to Disaster
Please note: All economic figures were quoted as of the week ending June 19th. There is a global economic crisis and this is true of America too and it is going to hit Kiruv organizations like a ton of bricks. Think I am exaggerating? The stock market doesn’t look so bad? Employment seems to be improving. Read on.
I have not slept well during the last three months. Don’t get me wrong, I fall right asleep, but I don’t wake up well-rested. There is a pit in my stomach that won’t seem to go away. Baruch Hashem, my family is healthy and well. I feel truly blessed in so many ways and I try to be grateful each and every day.
For most of us, COVID19 has been the single greatest disruption that we have ever experienced. As traumatic and unsettling as 9/11 and the Great Recession of 2008-9 were, they were limited in their scope and direct impact. By contrast, COVID19 has impacted the entire globe on many levels
“People put a lot less effort into picking apart evidence that confirms what they already believe.” -Peter Watts Given the current attention given to the murders, protests, police brutality and riots across the United States of America, I find it difficult to write about anything not related to this news that is dominating the headlines.
As I arrive daily at my office, I reach for my Tallis and Tefillin. After donning them, I instinctively begin to head for the Shul, but, alas, the Shul, which sits just ten feet from my office, is dark and desolate and off-limits for public davening. Sometimes I sneak into the sanctified sanctum, hoping beyond hope to see mispallelim fill the tables with their siddurim and seforim
I know a Holocaust survivor who lives on the West Coast. I attempt to speak with him once a week. Last week I casually asked him if the fact that all the shuls and Batei Medrash have been sealed shut reminded him of Europe before the war. My friend, who is in his mid-nineties, was taken aback in a way I had never seen.
