by Rabbi Sarah Freidson   Gina died when I was a junior in high school. She was just fourteen years old and had such a positive and upbeat attitude, despite facing major health issues caused by Familial Dysautonomia, a Jewish genetic disease. She was my friend Scott’s younger sister, and she loved hanging out with

by Shira Kohan   As a Persian Jew, we are known for many things: our delicious tahdig and kabob, our perfection of the art of taarof, and of course, our magical healing powers of chai ba’ nabat (tea and rock sugar). However, one thing Persian Jews are definitely not known for is our willingness to

by Meira Katz Lyons “I screen. You screen. We all screen with JScreen!” That was the chant heard loud and clear as we marched down 5th Avenue with JScreen as part of the Israel Day Parade in Manhattan. Aswe took our first steps onto 5th Avenue, holding the large banner in support of JScreen and to celebrate

by Ilana W.    Wow is all I can say! After a whirlwind AIPAC policy conference with over 18,000 people from different backgrounds, cities, and ages, I am more invigorated than ever. I felt like I was in a microcosm of Jewish life; high schoolers interacting with Holocaust survivors, Rabbis and politicians conversing, and pretty

Research estimates that 1 in 17 people will experience the symptoms of a rare disease in their lifetime. Collectively, these individuals represent a large population, however, separately they are in desperate need of representation in research and healthcare. Rare Disease Day, on February 29th, helps to bring these issues to light, as the global community comes together to raise awareness

by Kara Wexler With the New Year finally upon us, it’s time to whip out a notepad for our annual resolutions. While popular goals may include looking like a celebrity who belongs on the cover of People magazine, you’ll feel more fulfilled and empowered if your resolutions encompass the improvement of your mind, body, and