I'm sure that it is not uncommon for children to find themselves involved with many of the same charitable organizations in which their parents were involved. In that vein, I have followed my mother's lead by making JARC one of my favorite local causes.JARC enables people with developmental disabilities to live rich, meaningful lives as respected members of the community in settings of their choice; to access a Jewish way of life; to provide support to families; and to educate and sensitize ... Read Full Story

Sunday the rabbi ran on the court.No, this is not the title of a new book in the Harry Kemelman series about the rabbi.Last Sunday, during the pre-season exhibition game between the New York Knicks and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, Maccabi Coach Pini Gershon was ejected from the game but refused to leave the court at Madison Square Garden.I'm sure the NBA had some concerns about the substitute officials who have taken over during the referee lockout. But they were probably not expecting a situat... Read Full Story

Listening to the Torah reading on Shemini Atzeret this past Shabbat morning, my attention was focused on the hungry. One might think that it would have been on Yom Kippur that my attention was on the hungry as I spent the day fasting. However, I couldn't help but think of those human beings without enough sustenance during the Sukkot festival and into the holiday of Shemini Atzeret.On Sukkot, we move outdoors and dwell in temporary shelters. In the warm climate of Israel this is a nice custo... Read Full Story

I had the wonderful opportunity this past Wednesday night to see Detroit Tigers radio broadcasting legend Ernie Harwell interviewed by Mitch Albom at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. To raise money for several local Detroit organizations that help the homeless, author, sports journalist, and radio personality Mitch Albom hosted an event to launch his new book. "An Intimate Evening with Mitch Albom and Friends" featured Anita Baker, author Dave Barry, and Ernie Harwell.Albom discussed his new boo... Read Full Story

Another "Day of Atonement" has come and gone. While Rosh Hashanah is the official beginning of the new Jewish year, it always seems that it is not until the conclusion of Yom Kippur that the new year really commences. So, I say "Bring it on 5770!" you can't be any worse than the past year that brought us the Madoff scandal, Swine Flu, and the death of so many celebrities including Michael Jackson, Ed McMahon, Patrick Swayze, Teddy Kennedy, Walter Cronkite, William Safire, Farrah Fawcett, Paul... Read Full Story

I remember when I lived in New York City seeing the commercial for the New York Times repeated several times a day on television. The young, metropolitan couple would be sitting on the couch on a lazy Sunday morning. She would comment that when the New York Times arrives she always goes straight to the "Arts and Leisure" section, while he goes straight for the Sunday Magazine.For the past decade I have been the one to go straight for the Sunday Magazine too. Whether in print or online, I can... Read Full Story

With Yom Kippur commencing this Sunday evening, I couldn't resist blogging about food...In June 2006 I wrote about the opening of the first kosher Subway restaurant in North America. I then had a chance to try it when I was in Cleveland later that year (with Rabbi Steve Weiss at left). It was delicious and a real treat to walk into a Subway and order a meatball and cheese sub (fake cheese of course!).Now, Subway has quickly become the largest kosher restaurant chain in the U.S. according to a... Read Full Story

The High Holy Days really test rabbis' ability to handle stress...(c) Rabbi Jason A. Miller Site: http://www.rabbijason.com Blog: http://blog.rabbijason.com Read Full Story

During my first year of rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary, my Talmud teacher, Rabbi Avram Israel Reisner (right), came to me for some consultation. He knew I was tech savvy and interested in the Internet. It was 1998 and, as a member of the Rabbinical Assembly's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards ("the Law Committee"), he was working on a teshuvah (Jewish legal opinion) about whether it was permissible to convene a minyan (prayer quorum) in the virtual world. Specifical... Read Full Story

© The New Yorker(c) Rabbi Jason A. Miller Site: http://www.rabbijason.com Blog: http://blog.rabbijason.com Read Full Story