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Greet Jewish friends with “Shanah Tovah!”
“Have a Good New Year!” That’s what the Hebrew greeting means in English and, this week, our online magazine celebrates the many Jewish writers who contribute to ReadTheSpirit and also to our publishing house.
Among our Jewish authors, who you might enjoy exploring during this season, are: Rabbi Bob Alper, Rabbi Joseph Krakoff with Dr. Michelle Sider, Debra Darvick, Lynne Meredith Golodner, Brenda Rosenberg, Suzy Farbman, Robert Pasick, and many of the Women of WISDOM.
Holidays columnist Stephanie Fenton celebrates Rosh Hashanah in this story that also includes various links to online holiday recipes, plus a section of 2017 news items related to the New Year. Then, even though Yom Kippur does not begin until sunset on September 29 this year, Stephanie also has a story about that solemn day of fasting and reflection. Her Yom Kippur story this year has an added bonus—a video featuring a version of the Kol Nidre music played by Pablo Casals.
Related to the ancient cycle of Jewish holidays is the autumn season, moving toward winter. After the High Holidays, the harvest festival of Sukkot is coming. So, Stephanie also writes about the Northern Hemisphere’s Autumnal Equinox, this week. Once again, her column includes links to appropriate recipes and autumn-themed do-it-yourself crafts such as applehead dolls and a pinecone wreath.
REFLECTING ON OUR LIVES
HEADLINE NEWS NOW—Detroit Free Press religion writer Niraj Warikoo makes an inspiring connection this week between the High Holidays and the work of Rabbi Joseph Krakoff, a leader of a hospice network. Krakoff and artist Michelle Sider developed the new book Never Long Enough to help prompt family memories. Niraj Warikoo reports on this connection between the High Holidays, the rabbi’s ongoing work and Never Long Enough.
Learn more at: https://neverlongenough.net/
Want to see all the holidays? Remember www.InterfaithHolidays.org.
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ONE WOMAN’S CONVERSION
GodSigns—Suzy Farbman’s column this week is about a character already familiar to our regular readers: The wandering nurse Karen Raff, the subject of an earlier three-part series of columns that many readers enjoyed and shared on social media. In this week’s column, looking ahead to the Jewish High Holidays, Suzy tells the story of Karen’s conversion to Judaism..
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FAITH & FILM
ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published at VisualParables.org. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with complete study guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.
Among Ed’s latest free movie reviews are:
- CITY OF GHOSTS—Like many films reviewed by Ed McNulty, this is one that may cause you to search a bit. The search is worth it, Ed says, giving the documentary 5 out of 5 stars. The film focuses on a group of citizen journalists trying to battle ISIS messages in the Middle East, using cell phones, social media and news outlets to counter ISIS’s own slick propaganda.
- WHOSE STREETS? Another documentary to put on your viewing list, says Ed, is this fascinating exploration of what unfolded in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. (5 stars)
- BRIGSBY BEAR—This new tale of a child raised in captivity may seem similar to the earlier drama Room, but it’s not nearly as good, says Ed.
- WIND RIVER—Ed calls this exciting drama in the frozen wilderness “one of the best films of the year,” giving it 5 out of 5 stars.
- SHORT TERM 12—This is a terrific feature film, says Ed. (5 stars)
- THE WOMEN’S BALCONY—You’ll have to look around to find this new film set in Jerusalem, but the search is worth the effort, says Ed, giving this movie 5 out of 5 stars.
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