Old Jewish Burial Ground – Savannah, G.A.
The ‘Old Jewish Burial Ground’ in Savannah is surrounded by a tall wall outside of old Savannah. My visit to it therefore felt very much like a privileged introduction to […]
Author Archives: shalommorris
Mickve Israel – Savannah, G.A.
You’ve never seen a synagogue like this! Constructed in 1878, Mickve Israel is the only neo-Gothic style synagogue building in America. It is similar to many other religious buildings in Savannah, though Mickve […]
Coming St. Cemetery – Charleston, S.C.
I now know that the most impressive early American Jewish cemetery is in Charleston, South Carolina. I was struck by its size, and by the variety of its tombstones. The […]
Beth Elohim – Charleston, S.C.
To visit Charleston today is to step back in time to the period between the American Revolution and the American Civil War. During those years cosmopolitan Charleston was considered ‘America’s […]
Thanksgiving – A Spanish & Portuguese Jewish Holiday
Jews do not generally treat civil holidays as Jewish holidays. While some might mark them in some manner, others don’t even do that. With regard to the American holiday of Thanksgiving, a minority […]
Haye Sarah – Hebron the Holy City
The historical connection between the Jewish people and the city of Hebron began over three thousand years ago. Upon the passing of his beloved wife Sarah, Abraham sought a burial site for her. […]
Lekh Lekha – Really Going Places and JICNY
I was recently honored by JICNY, The Jewish International Connection of NY. The organization creates a social, religious and networking community for Jews in their 20s and 30s living in […]
Noah – Life’s Ports of Call
Noah survives the flood by building a boat to withstand the waves, and in doing so also saves life as we know it. There is a strong correlation between this […]
Aseret Yemei Hateshuva/Ha’azinu – Thinking Differently
Most years on Shabbat Teshuva (‘The Shabbat of Repentance,’ between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) we read the parashah of Ha’azinu. Contained in its words are exhortations to serve God and […]
Rosh Hashanah – Martyrdom or Life?
The central Torah reading of Rosh Hashanah is Akedat Yitzhak, the Binding of Isaac (indeed, the first day’s reading may very well just be a lead up to it). The […]
Shalom Says Hello 