Liberation is not a zero-sum game because our humanity can only be realized through recognizing the humanity of others. Passover--a celebration of freedom that commemorates the story of the Israelites’ exodus from bondage--is a reminder that our liberation cannot come at the expense of another's freedom. Oppression in any form diminishes us all. As Nelson Mandela powerfully explains, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” This is the essence of our obligation as humans.

One of the most insidious aspects of antisemitism today is that it comes from those who claim to be our friends, supporters, and defenders. Jewish people have been scapegoated for thousands of years but the subtlety and complexity of today's antisemitism often makes it difficult to pin down. While "conservative" and "progressive" anti-Jewish bias and hate take different forms, leaders on the right and the left tend to use antisemitism as a political football. It's no wonder that so many Jewish people feel harmed by and mistrustful of our "friends."

According to Heather Plett, one of the paradoxes of holding space is that it requires intentionality, self-awareness, and courage...and yet it can feel like you're doing nothing. Plett describes holding space as the practice of being present, open, and supportive for someone without trying to fix, control, or judge their experience. When we hold space for our colleagues in the workplace, we increase understanding, trust, and connection, benefiting our entire team.

What if our greatest achievements in life aren’t about what we do, but who we become? I’ve earned a PhD, published a book, had an award-winning career as a professor and researcher, and launched my own consultancy where I have the honor of helping people every day. But what truly defines me are the personal moments I chose courage over fear, voice over silence, and self-worth over shame.

If passed, Missouri Senate Bill 594 would require students in all schools to see the words “I AM THE LORD thy God” followed by the Ten Commandments posted in every classroom. Lawmakers in at least 15 states have introduced similar legislation. If you’re familiar with my work, you know that my faith is important to me. But religious instruction does not belong in our public school systems. These blatantly unconstitutional bills are part of a larger project that aims to “Christianize” not only public schools but the nation itself. That project, of course, is White Christian nationalism, and it poses a grave threat to our democracy.

In a situation where there's tension, conflict or disagreement, the worst thing you can do is nothing. Courageous conversations are essential for personal and professional growth, and yet they cause fear and anxiety for most of us--me included! Sometimes we avoid these conversations because we want to steer clear of confrontation, emotional distress, or vulnerability. It's also common to avoid "tough talks" because we fear that our words might fail us, or that we may say the "wrong" thing. This is where conversation bridges can help. Conversation bridges provide tools for bridging divides, increasing understanding, and strengthening relationships.

When you said "women's rights are human rights," did you mean only women who look a certain way, act a certain way, and have a certain type of body? Only women who aren't too strong or too fast? Cisgender women are not threatened or victimized by transgender and gender expansive people. If you are a White cis woman who is appropriating the language of women’s rights to inflict life-threatening harm on trans, Black, Brown, Indigenous or other marginalized communities who already experience widespread discrimination, you are advancing racism and transmisogyny, not feminism.

I agree with those who argue that many universities have done a poor job responding to antisemitism; I was a professor for 20+ years and experienced this myself. At the same time, I strongly believe that colleges have a responsibility to protect all of their students and their constitutional right to protest and speak out. In this piece I argue that two things can be true at once. Higher education has a history of avoidance & denial in the face of anti-Jewish oppression AND conservatives are leveraging antisemitism in their witch hunt to punish supposedly leftist universities and end DEI. In my own work, I strive to fight against the real harms of antisemitism while also calling out those who have turned it into a political football.

Militaristic and weaponized language in the workplace normalizes violence, reinforces hierarchies, and erodes psychological safety. Over time, it creates a culture of internal competition and dominance. It can also surface trauma responses for employees who have experienced racial trauma, gender violence, bullying, and other forms of harm. And yet, weaponized, violent, and militaristic language is ubiquitous in professional contexts: bullet points, hitting targets or benchmarks, and gun metaphors like “I’m shooting for” or “give it a shot” or “shooting down an idea.” This article ofters practical suggestions for embracing nonviolent, decolonial, and inclusive communication on your team.

The greatest danger we face is giving up on truth. Authoritarian politicians don’t just lie—they erode trust in truth itself, making people cynical and easier to manipulate. In this deceptive climate, people become overwhelmed by disinformation and stop seeking the truth altogether. Did you know that the most dangerous authoritarian regimes don't just rely on propaganda to push their ideology? Instead, they flood the public sphere with so many lies, distortions, and contradictions that people lose their ability--and desire--to distinguish truth and falsehood.

The conversation you’re avoiding is the one you most need to have. Often just getting a courageous conversation started is the hardest part. This article offers inspiration and 4 practical strategies for successfully navigating “tough talks” by inviting others into a shared space of curiosity. Framing the conversation as a shared effort to understand--not a win-or-lose debate--can help to defuse tension/conflict and open up an authentic space for trust, safety, and mutual respect.

Extremists aren’t attacking DEI; they are attacking us. A new “Lavender Scare”—a moral panic that led to the mass dismissal of many LGBTQIA+ people from government service in the 1950s—is now a very real threat in 2025. This New McCarthyism is part of the Trump administration’s broad roll back of civil rights, targeting LGBTQ+ people under the guise of ending DEI “Promotion.” The true intent of these policies has been clear from the start: legal discrimination, social persecution, and erasure.

We all have cognitive biases and our culture reinforces them in ways that we often don’t recognize. This is why it’s essential to be aware of our own bias when consuming information. If we want to be truly effective as leaders, activists, or really anything, we need to do the personal work of discovering and mitigating our biases. In this article I share 5 ways to reduce confirmation bias starting today!

The essence of courage is transforming fears and challenges into opportunities for growth and human flourishing. Today I celebrate being cancer free for 11 years! This journey has taught me so much about resilience, courage, and thriving. In honor of this milestone, I'm sharing 4 life lessons from my breast cancer journey. Now is the time to love deeply, live fully, and lead boldly. When we infuse our lives and work with passion, power, and purpose, everyone thrives.

As we approach the end of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, what is our responsibility as global citizens? As a person of Jewish descent with family in Israel, I feel a keen responsibility to actively support desperately needed humanitarian access to Gaza as well as efforts to address the root causes of the violence. Without addressing root causes, peace cannot be sustainable. Image credit: People walk along Gaza's coastal al-Rashid Street to cross the Netzarim corridor from the southern Gaza Strip into the north on Jan. 27, 2025. OMAR AL-QATTAA / AFP via Getty Images

Leaders, are you modeling the behavior you expect from others? If you want to create a healthy workplace culture, remember that being corrected isn't an attack; it's an opportunity to grow. Let’s be honest, many of us are scared of making mistakes or offending others. But stepping out of safety and into growth means normalizing messing up. Being an impactful leader or change agent doesn't require us to be perfect; it requires us to be accountable. This post contains five of my inclusive leadership strategies for approaching criticism as an opportunity for growth!

“Real” men and women do not exist. We’re all gorgeous failures when it comes to gender, although cis folks are not policed and punished for our “failures” as our trans siblings are. That's not something I could have said or even understood when this photo was taken almost 40 years ago when I was a student at Smith College. The violence, exclusion, and discrimination suffered by trans, nonbinary and intersex people demonstrate how social imperatives to be a “real” man or woman have devastatingly oppressive consequences in our world. Please join me in doing the vital work of challenging naturalizing discourses of binary gender that harm everyone--including, perhaps, you. Read more to learn about my personal story and actionable steps you can take as an active ally and equity advocate!

Overcoming division, intolerance, and polarization requires intentional effort from all of us, especially during these difficult times. But how do we activate the power of connection in a world that seems to be driving us further apart? You can strengthen your sense of shared humanity by engaging in practices that remind you of the kinship you share with others. Tapping into our shared humanity helps us to increase empathy, navigate conflict productively, and strengthen relationships and teams.

Holocaust Memorial Day isn’t just about the past and honoring the memories of those who were murdered. It’s about our unfinished humanity in 2025. As someone whose family was almost annihilated in the Holocaust, I’m calling on all of you to stand against hate and the alarming rise of antisemitism in our world. Read my recommendations for steps you can take today. Together we can build a world where no one faces hate, discrimination and violence simply because of their identity.

Including Hanukkah in your holiday celebrations isn’t “taking a side” in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Last year, municipalities and organizations across the US canceled or “toned down” public Hanukkah celebrations for fear of appearing to side with Israel in the current conflict. At at time when neo-Nazi incidents are rising in America, weaponizing a Jewish religious holiday only serves to fuel anti-Jewish bigotry and hatred.