How I taught a class of teenagers a lesson in ethics without them even noticing — First-year teachers can’t be picky. That’s how my wife and I ended up in Budapest, Hungary. It was 1993, only four years after the iron curtain had come down. …

Reimagine Passover as a Journey of Spiritual Impressionism — Year after year, the Festival of Passover summons Jews around the world not merely to remember but to reexperience their long and checkered history: The dramatic reversal of the exodus from Egypt after 210 years of slavery. Four decades wandering through the wilderness. Nine centuries of settlement and monarchy. 70…

Dustin Hoffman and the Miracle of Purim The Festival of Purim may be the most misunderstood celebration in all Jewish tradition. And for good reason. Even the historical background seems to contradict the template of Jewish history and survival. Confounded amidst the cultural and spiritual darkness of Persian exile nearly 2400 years ago, the Jewish people faced…

Replace the false promise of falling in love with the enduring joy of commitment — This weekend, I celebrated 35 years of marriage with my wife, Sara Miriam. It’s hard to believe so much time has passed by. It’s just as hard to believe we made it this far. After Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, returned from the land of Charan with a wife for his master’s…

Your own grass looks greener from the other side of the fence — Four decades after studying English at the University of California, much of my academic career has faded from memory. But two instructors still stand out in sharp relief. My Shakespeare professor, Richard Levin, was a cheery, almost spritely fellow. He amicably prodded us to challenge him on any point, then…

With endless distraction at our fingertips, consider the benefit of being bored — Ah, the serendipity of a snow day, the freedom of the weekend, the endless opportunity of spring break. What could be better than to relax in the tranquility of unstructured hours, serenaded by the lilting voices of my children calling out to me, one after another, “Dad, I’m bored!” One…

A moment of reflection lets you to tap into the potential for greatness you never knew you had — I’ve never seen a performance of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. But I have read the book. And for all Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical and choreographic genius, I still believe the book is better. Every Saturday, Jewish congregations around the world gather in synagogue to read a different selection from…

The latest school shooting in St. Louis may have roots we’d rather not think about — My wife teaches special education at a St. Louis County middle school. A close family friend taught at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School until a few years ago, when he was transferred. …

Revisiting the true intent behind the First Amendment This past July, in a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of coach Joseph Kennedy, who sued to be reinstated in his job after being fired by the Bremerton School District for leading a post-game prayer. Writing for the minority, Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued: “Official-led prayer strikes at…