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Beyond Steak and Scotch: What Men Can Find in the Sukkah

by Rabbi Noam Raucher, MA.ed

I know the call to service all too well. As a father, and especially as a divorced father, my first instinct after the rupture of marriage was to focus on my kids. They were the center. They needed to feel secure, sustained, held. And so I poured myself into making sure they were OK; the …

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Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum DisorderBy Steven Mandel MD Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition defined by a persistent deficit in social communication and interaction, alongside restricted repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities. They must be present in early childhood, and it may result in clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, and in other important areas …

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Autism: Lester’s Story

Autism: Lester’s Story  My Story by Lester Shapiro, FJMC International Communications Our son, now twenty-five years old, has long been diagnosed with autism in addition to intellectual disabilities. He is a beautiful and loving young adult with an amazing memory and a good sense of humor, be it in his own way. He has a …

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A Brief Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder

A Brief Introduction to Autism Spectrum DisorderBy Jacob Sheff, DO Autism is a behavioral disorder, and like all behavioral disorders, also known as psychiatric or mental health disorders, its description is in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Autism was first listed as a diagnosis on its own in …

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All God’s Children

All God’s Children by Lee Introduction This is a story about my family and inclusion and diversity.  I have changed the namesof my family members to protect their privacy.  My wife and I have 2 adult daughters,Rachel, the older daughter, and Ariel.  Rachel is neurotypical and high achieving.  Arielis neurodivergent – having developmental disabilities, bipolar disorder, …

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What is the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC)?

The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is a national nonprofit organization committed to empowering individuals affected by obesity through education, advocacy, and support. For men navigating the challenges of excess weight, the OAC offers a robust suite of science-based resources designed to foster understanding and action. Central to its mission is the “Your Weight Matters” campaign, …

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Transforming the World Together

The U.N.’s 17 Sustainable Developmental Goals Each Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) approved by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 is aimed at promoting global prosperity, while protecting the planet and providing everyone a reasonable quality of life, without distinction to race, national origin, gender or age. These goals particularly emphasize inequalities found around the …

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Our responsibility toward others

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Domestic violence affects every community, including the Jewish one. One in three women and one in four men in the United States will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Jewish Women International (JWI) has been a leader in raising awareness and offering resources to address this crisis. As Jewish men, …

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rabbi noam raucher

What are you really building with your life?

More than just a shelter Sukkot asks us to step outside—of our homes, our comfort zones and our illusions of permanence. For seven days, we dwell in a fragile, temporary shelter. It’s not just to remember our ancestors’ journey through the wilderness, but to confront our own: What are we building? What are we chasing? …

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Welcome to FJMC!

Skokie, Ill., Brotherhood joins the club FJMC International recently welcomed Temple Beth Israel’s (TBI) Brotherhood of Skokie, Ill., as one of its affiliated clubs and newest Reform club, now part of the Midwest Region. The Brotherhood was established in 1924 when the congregation was then located in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood. It’s been a thriving …

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