Rabbi Jon's Website and Blog

More Purim: "Esther Among the Muggles"

Another interesting article, from Professor Carol Ingall, professor of Jewish education at the Jewish Theological Seminary, comparing Esther and Harry Potter!

Both the Kadosh Barukh Hu and J. K. Rowling know what makes for a gripping story: take an orphan, afflict him or her with tsuris, and watch the true mettle of the hero emerge. The eternally enchanting Book of Esther and books of the Harry Potter saga depend on similar elements to cast their magic spell: questions of parentage, identity, abandonment, separation, initiation, the presence of a mentor / nurturer, and a reconnection to one's people.

Read the whole piece here

Chanuka -- Sixth Candle

If you're looking for something to help people who are not Jewish understand Chanuka, here is a 13-minute TV interview I did this month for Londonderry's public access cable TV program "Londonderry Heart, Home, and Soul" with host Mark Oswald.

Jewish dedication for the sixth candle:  The Young Judaea Zionism movement's "Year Course" has been for a long time one of the very best programs in Jewish education.  Young people go for the gap year between high school and college.  The program combines study, volunteer work, travel, communal living, and leadership development.  In recent years the Year Course has developed special tracks in everything from arts to medicine to yeshiva study.  Year Course alums are leaders in Jewish life in all kinds of organizations (they turn up as U.S. Supreme Court clerks as well!).  Here's to quality Jewish programming worth supporting, or investigating if you are in high school or have a child who is.