Fish Heads and … Carrots? Spiritually Enriching Foods for the High Holidays

By Michelle Cohen
HAKOL Editor

Rabbi David Wilensky of Congregation Sons of Israel was recently approached by someone looking for a sheep’s head for Rosh Hashanah. “Try Sheepshead Bay,” Wilensky remembers joking. But when asked about the importance of food-based symbols on Rosh Hashan…

Finding Hope in the Presence of Judaism in Poland

By Eric J. Fels

The first question I get about my recent trip to Poland is: why did we go? This is a difficult question to answer. Growing up in the post-Holocaust era, the mention of Poland immediately brought to mind images of death and destruction. The suffering in the ghettos and the in…

Piecing Together an Ancient Jewish Heritage

By Michelle Cohen
HAKOL Editor

When I embarked on a nine-day Greek Isles cruise, I knew I would see a lot of religious diversity. From the giant cathedrals looming over Rome to the Acropolis in Athens, I encountered a great number of religious sites honoring a variety of deities. The one re…

Growing Spiritually and Intellectually on Birthright

By Natalie Sams

Traveling to Israel for 13 days with 30 young adults on a unique academic trip through Taglit Birthright Israel has deeply strengthened my connection with Israel and the worldwide Jewish community. This extended trip included lectures at the IDC Herzliya, a leading research …

Statement on Orlando Attacks

The Jewish Federation of Lehigh Valley is outraged and saddened by the tragic and horrific mass shooting this weekend at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. This act of terror and hate has left 49 people confirmed killed and at least 53 more severely injured. We were dismayed to learn of this horrif…