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But How Do you Know?
As part of my course work in the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (MTEI)/Hebrew Union College Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership, I was asked to research my own practice as a teacher. I immediately knew my research topic! Does learning in my classroom empower young people to be Upstanders? If so, what experiences in my Jewish… →
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Making Abraham an Upstander
Parashat Vayera D’var 5786 – 8 November 2025 (A video of my reading this d’var is linked at the bottom) Years ago I heard Rabbi Donniel Hartman speak about the Abraham of Genesis 18:16 – 33 versus the Abraham of Genesis 22. Rabbi Donniel taught that our choice of which Abraham speaks to us said →
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Working Towards Full Repentance – D’var Parshat Vayiggash 8738 – given 31 December 2022
When learning about the steps of Teshuvah – the repair and return to a good place that is meant to happen after we “break” a relationship, a trust, or someone else’s property – we don’t always learn about the final step – the proof that the intention behind the apology and repair was sincere and →
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A Pandemic Poem by a Teacher…
It felt good…and awful at the same time… It all began with having to tell 8th grade we weren’t going on our trip to Israel. Heartbreaking. Disappointing. 9 years of waiting, and now nothing. Then talk of having to go remote. Our small school managed the beginning really well. We were prepared – already planning →
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Arguing for the Sake of Justice – William Cooper and Kristallnacht
“William Cooper stood to gain nothing from his actions. He had no connection to the Jews of Europe. But he knew what it was like to be persecuted based on one’s racial or ethnic identity and did not wish that on anyone else.” →
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Dancing with the Remnants – My Reflections on The Bielski Partisan Gathering
Dancing with the Remnants Marking the 75th Anniversary of Liberation from the Nazis with the Bielski Partisans Nance Morris Adler Shabbat Shuva 5780 Shomer Yisrael, Sh’mor Sh’erit Yisrael V’al yovad Yisrael, ha-omrim: Sh’ma Israel. Guardian of Israel, guard the remnant of Israel; and preserve the people of Israel, who proclaim: “Sh’ma Yisrael. →
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D’var Shabbat Shuvah 5777 – Two Modes of Reconciliation with a Difficult Past – Terezin and Berlin
Terezin or Berlin – Two Models for Reconciling with a Difficult Past Shabbat Shuvah 5777 – Parshat Vayelekh Nance Adler I hadn’t originally tied my d’var to the Parshat this week – I was focusing on the theme of t’shuva for Shabbat Shuvah – but was struck by these verses as the Torah was being →
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Article in HaYidion Issue on Talking about God
Fresh off the press is “The God Issue” of HaYidion, published by RAVSAK. I am honored to have an article in this journal about my God Talk program that is a key part of my 8th grade Theology course. I am copying the article below (well, my original file of it) and also a link →
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D’var for Shabbat Shoftim 5774 – Education as Justice
D’var on Shoftim Aug 30, 2014, 4 Elul 5774 Nance Adler (This d’var was inspired by my Fund for Teachers Fellowship in Sarajevo with Centropa and my training as a USHMM Teacher Fellow) צדק צדק תרדוף למען תחיה וירשת את הארץ אשר יי אלהיך נתן לך Justice, Justice shall you purse, that you may thrive and →
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Leaving a Piece of My Heart in Sarajevo
(This was written on 17 July, 2014 as I was leaving) As the plane rises above Sarajevo, I think about all I have seen in this most fascinating of cities. From the mix of building styles and materials, to the mix of buildings old and new, to the mix of women in hijab and dresses →
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