JewsByChoice.Org

The 17th of Tammuz and the Three Weeks are a time of sorrow and mourning for various tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people.

When Moses descended from Mount Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments, he saw the idol worship taking place. Becoming enraged, Moses broke the tablets.
In 1970, Libya ordered the confiscation of all [...]

Hear, O Israel: HaShem is our G-d, HaShem is the One and Only. You shall love HaShem your G-d, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your resources. And these matters that I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children and you [...]

About ten years ago I was working for an agency that worked with children and teens (and their parents) who were emotionally disturbed. Some of these children/teens were also intellectually challenged. Three of the children I worked with were from the same family. All three were intellectually challenged as well as emotionally disturbed (their older [...]

I am HaShem; I have called you with righteousness; I will strengthen your hand; I will protect you; I will set you for a covenant to the people, for a light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6)
We as Jews are commanded to be a “light unto the nations” (לאור גוים). As such, it is our obligation [...]

I would take a guess that most people who read this blog fall into one of three categories when it comes to the Bible: 1) the Bible is literal and cannot be interpreted any other way; 2) the Bible is mostly allegorical and should not be taken literally; and, 3) the Bible is part literal [...]

This is just a brief note to inform our readers of a very helpful site. I have decided to take on the mitzvot of tallit and tefillin on a daily basis. Since I have made this decision, I decided that my shel rosh (head tefillin) needed some adjusting so it would fit properly. Well, being [...]

The following information about the order of the Seder was taken from The Interlinear Haggadah while the commentary is entirely my own.
Kaddesh - Recite the Kiddush

Just as we thank G-d for the sweet grapes that make the wine, I also thank G-d for the sweet taste of Torah that was given to the Jews and [...]

I have decided to begin using my ArtScroll Tehillim everyday. The power of reciting Tehillim (Psalms) each day is well known throughout the Jewish world and it has personally enhanced my connection with G-d. Do you read Tehillim daily or have you thought about it?
From the Publisher’s Preface of the ArtScroll Tehillim:
For Nearly three thousand [...]

I read an interesting article in the spring issue of Voices of Conservative/Masorti Judaism titled “A Place at the Table” written by a Jew by choice. She brings up issues that many of us have either encountered or heard of others encountering when it comes to finding a “home” during Pesach. I found the following [...]

The story of Purim as accounted in the Megillah Esther is a story of strength and a struggle against adversity. The curious thing about this story is that HaShem is not mentioned. However, HaShem is working behind the scenes – as seen in chapter 5, verse 4 – “let the king and Haman come today” [...]