A Painting of Pain & The Responsibility of Remembrance
As we prepare to commemorate Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, I’ve been thinking about my father- in- law, Leon Schipper, z’’l. Leon grew up in Germany, and was still a boy when he fled to Belgium...
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Giving Gelt: Starting A Family Giving Circle (Part 2)
Around Hanukkah this past year, my family decided to start our own giving circle. Sitting around the kitchen table, armed with the Amplifier Giving Circle participant workbook for each member of the...
View ArticleDon’t Forget This Important Holiday Gift
This is a crazy time of year. Life is hectic. We’re working and scheduling those last few very important meetings before “EVERYONE” is on vacation through the end of 2016. We’re running out to (or...
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“What is Rosh Hashanah?”
As the only Jewish kid in his middle school in suburban Mississippi, my youngest son Eric will be telling his friends why he won’t be at school Monday. He’ll say he won’t be there “because it’s Rosh...
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A Long Overdue Visit
Clarksdale, Mississippi. To fans of the blues, Clarksdale is the birthplace of the great Sam Cook, “A Change is Gonna Come,” and of course, site of the legendary crossroads of Hwy 61 and 49 where...
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Shopping for a Southern Seder
Shopping for Passover items can be challenging in small Southern towns – and I’m sure there are others around the country who can relate to this as well. When you’re outside of a major metropolitan...
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The Choice We Made: Confirmation & Commitment to Community
As a parent of teenagers, there are times when you make decisions for your kids and there are times when you empower them to make their own decisions. A recent conversation around the dinner table at...
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Race Matters: Reflections from a White Southern Jewish Mother
Joe Crachiola/Courtesy of The Macomb Daily I’ve been thinking a lot about race lately. Many others have, too, in the aftermath of George Zimmerman’s acquittal – but I’ve also heard plenty of people...
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Can Newcomers “Revive” Small Southern Jewish Communities? Maybe That’s Not...
At the ISJL, we’re often asked about all things “Southern” and “Jewish” – so it was no surprise that we received several inquiries regarding a recent article posted on JTA, headlined “Jewish newcomers...
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Thoughts on the #Shutdown: “For Our Nation And Its Rulers”…
I was listening to National Public Radio on the way into work this morning, hearing more and more details of the government shutdown. We are now into day three, and quite frankly it seems to be an...
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Why I Let My Jewish Kids Trick-or-Treat
Below, Michele Schipper explains why she lets her kids trick-or-treat. To hear from another Jewish mom with a different perspective, check out “Why I Don’t Let My Kids Trick-or-Treat.” What happens...
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The 4 Questions of Thanksgiving
As I get ready for my Southern family’s traditional Thanksgiving celebration, which this year will overlap our celebration of Hanukkah… well, there’s been all this talk of “Thanksgivukkah,” but right...
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“Michele’s Banana Pudding”
Traditions around food are something that is near and dear to my stomach (I mean my heart). My childhood memories of holiday meals always included a Jell-O mold and a delicious coffee cake. My mother...
View ArticleMazel Tov: You Won a Medal!
As you may know, I like sports. I don’t want to brag but I was quite the athlete during my summers at the URJ Jacobs Camp in Utica, Mississippi [pause for laughter]. Just so you know, camp friends: I...
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