Tag
Community
18 articles
Finding Jewish Community Abroad: The Traveling Jew's Guide
Whether you're backpacking through Southeast Asia or on a business trip to São Paulo, finding Jewish community abroad is easier than you think. From Chabad houses to synagogue finders to Shabbat hosting networks, here's how to stay connected wherever you go.
The Synagogue: House of Prayer, Study, and Assembly
More than just a place of worship — the synagogue is the heart of Jewish community life, combining prayer, learning, and social gathering under one roof.
Jews in America: Four Centuries of History
From 23 refugees arriving in New Amsterdam in 1654 to a thriving community of nearly seven million, the story of Jews in America is a story of reinvention, contribution, and enduring identity.
Sitting Shiva: The Jewish Practice of Mourning
Shiva — the seven-day Jewish mourning period — transforms a home into a sanctuary of grief, where community gathers to comfort the bereaved with presence, prayer, and food.
Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World
From a mystical Kabbalistic concept about gathering divine sparks to a modern rallying cry for social justice, tikkun olam — repairing the world — is one of Judaism's most powerful ideas.
Tzedakah: The Jewish Obligation of Justice and Giving
Tzedakah is not charity — it's justice. From Maimonides' eight levels to the humble pushke on the kitchen counter, Jewish giving is an obligation, not an option.
Parashat Vayakhel: The Community Builds the Mishkan Together
Parashat Vayakhel describes Moses assembling the people, reaffirming Shabbat, and the outpouring of donations for the Mishkan — so generous the people had to be told to stop. Bezalel leads the construction with divinely inspired skill.
Major Jewish Organizations: A Complete Guide
From the ADL to the JCC, from Hillel to Hadassah — the major Jewish organizations that shape communal life, advocacy, education, and philanthropy. What each one does and how to get involved.
The Eruv: Judaism's Invisible Shabbat Boundary
An eruv is a symbolic boundary — usually made of wire and poles — that allows observant Jews to carry objects on Shabbat within its perimeter. Learn how eruvs are constructed, who checks them weekly, and why they spark passionate community debates.
Jewish Hospitality: Abraham's Open Tent and the Art of Welcoming
In Jewish tradition, welcoming guests is not just good manners — it is a sacred obligation greater than meeting God. From Abraham's tent in the desert to the Shabbat table in your apartment, hachnasat orchim shapes how Jews build community and honor strangers.
Finding Your Jewish Community: A Practical Guide
Whether you are new to Judaism or just new to your neighborhood, this guide helps you find your Jewish community — from synagogues and JCCs to Hillels and online groups.
Starting Your Jewish Journey: A Guide for Beginners
Whether you are exploring Judaism for the first time, considering conversion, or returning to Jewish practice — this guide tells you where to start, what to read, and how to connect.
Klal Yisrael: Community as a Core Jewish Value
Judaism insists that spiritual life is communal, not individual. From the requirement of a minyan to the principle that 'all Israel is responsible for one another,' community is sacred.
Hillel International: Jewish Life on the College Campus
The largest Jewish campus organization in the world, Hillel International has been creating spaces for Jewish life, learning, and belonging at colleges and universities since 1923.
Jewish Perspectives on Retirement and Honoring Elders
Judaism does not believe in retirement from purpose — here is how Jewish tradition views aging, honoring elders, finding meaning in later life, and the gift of wisdom.
Starting a Chevra Kadisha: A Guide to Sacred Burial Societies
A practical guide to founding and running a Chevra Kadisha (Jewish burial society), covering the taharah process, recruitment, training, emotional support, and organizational structure.
Jewish Volunteer Opportunities: A Guide to Tikkun Olam in Action
A guide to Jewish volunteer opportunities organized by category — hunger relief, elderly care, education, environment, and Israel — with major organizations and practical advice for getting started.
The Future of Jewish Identity: Continuity, Change, and What Comes Next
Jewish identity is evolving rapidly. With rising intermarriage, declining denominational affiliation, growing diversity, and new technologies reshaping community, the future of what it means to be Jewish is being written in real time.