People of faith are finally getting their act together and developing a consensus around global warming and other environmental concerns.  It’s no longer a radical-fringe idea that people, individually and collectively, have a moral duty to do all we can to stop destroying our environment.  With all the Earth Day talk going on this week, it might seem like the whole country is on board.  Which is a good thing, right?

But there’s a new twist:  what about when companies try to sell stuff by using Earth Day itself as a marketing tool?  Maybe you’re too sophisticated to fall for that, but what about when the pitch is aimed at preschoolers?

This is the concern behind a recent piece in the Huffington Post, “Marketing Earth Day (and Other Stuff) to Children,” by Susan Linn and Josh Golin of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.  (Sounds quixotic, doesn’t it?  I don’t mean to…

Book cover photo courtesy of Beacon Press

“The womb is such a powerful weapon; it’s a weapon against the enemy.”

So said Nancy Campbell in an NPR piece about the Quiverfull movement that aired yesterday.

Maybe it’s not fair to start with the most alarming quote from the entire story, but trust me, I felt alarmed when I heard it.  The womb is a weapon?  What on earth was this woman talking about?

It turns out that the Quiverfull movement is an extreme manifestation of a trend among evangelical Christians to have as many children as possible.  They shun birth control (generally even natural family planning) as improper meddling with God’s will.  They are also all over the blogosphere these days, thanks in large part to a new book by journalist Kathryn Joyce called Quiverfull: Inside The Christian Patriarchy Movement. The publishing house’s blurb about the book asserts that

In direct and conscious opposition to feminist calls…

So I know it’s kind of old news at this point, but I just read another article about “Hit A Jew Day”. This one from The Jewish Light.

I’ve heard the news reports and read numerous other articles. I read Tim’s post about it and the comments. And seriously, are you kidding me?

The “are you kidding me?” is directed at the people who think this is not a big deal or just immaturity. Yes, many sixth graders are immature. And no, I don’t believe that the incident is deeply rooted in anti-Semitism. I’m not calling it a hate crime either. But come on. What better way for children to learn that it is ignorant and inappropriate to single others out based on religion then calling them out on it. Let them feel embarrassed and stupid for what they did. And maybe, just maybe, they won’t do it again.

I know some people are saying…

I am not about to give give you a crash course in the Jewish New Year, I am about to share my learning experience in temple this past Tuesday.

Happy New Year

Let me start with a little history. For as long as I can remember, I have been ringing in the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, with lots of food and long services at temple. I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve been excused from this ritual in my 34 years. And trust me, it isn’t from lack of trying. Let’s see…chicken pox, twice while away at college, and doctor ordered bed rest with my first pregnancy. Aside from the excused absence from school, I grew up dreading the Jewish holidays. Particularly the High Holy days. Getting dressed up, spending time with extended family and sitting in temple listening to a mixture of Hebrew and English, both…

In honor of my Grandma this Mother’s Day, I am going to share a family tradition with you. The tradition of naming children after loved ones who have passed. As far as I know, this is a Jewish custom but I’m always careful to only speak for myself and not all Jews collectively. Rabbi Shook points out the many denominations within Judaism and the vast differences among them. That being said, I’m going to stick to what I know.

When a child is born they are given two names. The name they will go by on a daily basis, in my case Kim. (Actually, my parents hate the name Kim. My given name is Kimberly and for some reason my parents thought that would stick for life. I think I officially became Kim in third grade when we had to learn to write our names in cursive.) And the Hebrew name which…

I really liked Pamela’s last post. Not only do I love to hear a story like that about tolerance and commitment, but what great parenting! At 33, with 2 young children, a lot of my thoughts about religion, or life in general, have to do with being a good mother.

And I have an opinion on how to breed tolerance or better yet, acceptance.

When my nephew was 3, my niece was born. My sister-in-law had our Rabbi come out to their house for a baby naming. While he was there, he also hung a mezuzah for them. Later that night, while my sister-in-law was putting my nephew to bed he says, “Mommy, God was here today.” Well then. So of course she asks him what he is referring to and he replies, “You know, God? The guy who put the mezuzah up”.

Cute story, right? That’s been told a few dozen times – always…