Purim, October 7, and Holocaust Inversion
This year, one passage in the Book of Esther is particularly poignant. Before Haman could carry out his deadly plot to “destroy, massacre, and exterminate the Jews, young and old, […]
March 22, 2024
March 14, 2024
Living Life On Two Planes
Last week I went to bed very late every night.I had to stay up to see that the day’s hostages were finally safely in Israel. I felt that if I […]
February 20, 2024
Becoming Witnesses
TEL AVIV – When I landed at Ben Gurion Airport 10 months ago everything felt different. That makes sense in context; life in Israel before Oct. 7 and after are […]
January 30, 2024
Springtime in January
Tu B’Shvat never made sense to me growing up. Sometime in January, the Sunday school classrooms became flooded with stacks of plastic pots, bags of rich black soil, and tiny, […]
December 15, 2023
Here When You Need It Most
Austin Zoot is the Rabbi Educator at the Valley Temple in Wyoming, Ohio. For more content from Rabbi Zoot, visit his website: austinmzoot.com. It seems as though the weather is […]
December 8, 2023
From Generation to Generation: Shabbat as a Gift for Our Children
Austin Zoot is the Rabbi Educator at the Valley Temple in Wyoming, Ohio. For more content from Rabbi Zoot, visit his website: austinmzoot.com. My earliest memories of Shabbat are in […]
November 24, 2023
A Path to Rejoicing Amidst the Darkness: Re-igniting the Blessing of Jewish Living
Austin Zoot is the Rabbi/Educator at Valley Temple in Wyoming, Ohio. For more content from Rabbi Zoot, visit his website, austinmzoot.com. A Jew never struggles alone. It is one of […]
November 23, 2023
This Year I’m Thankful For….
In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks and the ensuing conflict, we find ourselves grappling with a disheartening rise in global and online antisemitism. It’s a stark reminder of […]
November 15, 2023
Carrying the Burden: Taking a Stand Against Antisemitism
I found out about my Jewish heritage a couple of months ago after participating in a genetic study at a local hospital that left me with more questions than answers. […]
November 13, 2023
Never Again is Now
Co-authored by Interim Chief Executive Officer David Wise and Jackie Congedo, Chief External Relations & Community Engagement Officer, originally published in the Cincinnati Enquirer It’s no exaggeration to say that […]