Today is National Oreo Day, a whimsical festival established to appreciate the cultural significance of America’s most popular cookie. For Jews, however, the history of the Oreo highlights the rather serious theme at the center of our upcoming festival of Purim, i.e. the tension between being a part of and apart from the society in which we live. Even though we Jews want to maintain our cultural and religious distinctiveness, in our heart of hearts, we also want to feel like we belong, and for eighty-six years—from the production of the very first Oreo cookie in 1912 until the unveiling of kosher Oreos in 1998—we didn’t. Yes, there existed countless symbols of Jewish ascendancy in America. One couldn’t turn on a television without seeing Jewish celebrities like Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax, Lenny Bruce, Mel Brooks, Gilda Radner, and Stephen Spielberg… or prominent officials like Henry Kissinger, Barbara Boxer, or Diane [...]

The festival of Purim articulates how navigating the tension between being a part of and apart from the society in which we live can help the Jewish people survive and evolve. Left unsaid, however, is the power of Jewish tradition to change other civilizations. When we succeed in making ourselves a part of, yet apart from, society, our beliefs and traditions invariably impact the society in which we live. In fact, many Reform luminaries viewed this as one of Judaism’s principal obligations. “It is the destiny of Judaism to pour the light of its thoughts, the fire of its sentiments, the fervor of its feelings upon all souls and hearts on earth. Then all of these peoples and nations, each according to its soil and history, will, by accepting our teachings, kindle their own lights, which will shine independently and warm their souls.” (Samuel Holdheim, “This Is Our Task,” [...]

Today is National Hug-a-GI day, started in 1996 by Adrienne Koopersmith to appreciate active duty members of the Armed Services.* As we show gratitude for American service members, we also have an opportunity to revisit the enduring theme of our upcoming festival of Purim. Remarkably, the evolution of the Jewish military chaplaincy represents an inspiring application of the guidance we receive from the Book of Esther for navigating the balance between being a part of and apart from the society in which we live. Until the Civil War, the United States offered no provision for the spiritual support of its soldiers. The Volunteer Act, enacted by Congress on July 22, 1861 in the wake of the Confederate attack upon Fort Sumter, prescribed the commission of military chaplains but initially specified that chaplains constituted ordained ministers of, “some Christian faith.” However, the Fifth Pennsylvania Calvary, organized by Jewish Colonel Max [...]

As we enter the Hebrew month of Adar (today is the third of Adar), we begin preparing in earnest for the festival of Purim. As the festival following Hanukkah and preceding Passover, we sometimes lump Purim into a category of Jewish festivals often summarized by, “They tried to kill us. We survived. Let’s eat!” However, Purim remains distinctive in its thematic messaging. Unlike the stories of Hanukkah and Passover, which often emphasize the role of God in our people’s deliverance, the Book of Esther never mentions God, opting instead to deliver explicit advice for flourishing in the Diaspora. “Mordechai had this message delivered to Esther: 'Do not imagine that you, of all the Jews, will escape with your life by being in the king’s palace. On the contrary, if you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, while you and [...]