Another Devastating Step In the “Year of Firsts”
When a parent passes, one of the hardest parts – at least for me – is the “year of firsts” – the first holiday without them, birthdays, Mother’s or Father’s […]
“Thank You Very Much” Sheds New Light on the Late, Fascinating Comedian Andy Kaufman
Who was Andy Kaufman? A nice Jewish boy from Long Island who didn’t smoke or drink and practiced Transcendental Meditation? A nonsensical man-child? An angry jerk who pushed the limits […]
The Heavy, Sacred Burden of Legacy
At various points throughout the year, I find myself quietly asking: What does my Judaism mean to me? What is the true depth of my connection to it? These questions […]
What To Do With Old Hebrew School Craft Projects?
Got a question? Fill out this form to submit your anonymous question to be answered in a future column. Dear Miriam, When I took out my Passover dishes this year, […]
‘October 8’ & My Growing, Interfaith Relationship With My Mother-In-Law
Early in our relationship, I proclaimed, “I need to raise my kids Jewish.” My now husband said yes. Neither of us knew what that’d look like, but we were ready […]
The Resourceful, Righteous Women Who Helped The Jews From Egypt
At this time of year most women feel as though they are the slaves that came out of Egypt with the never ending Pesach cleaning, cooking and family catering. We […]
New PBS Documentary Tackles Artist, Activist And Pulitzer Prize-Winner Art Spiegelman
The name Art Spiegelman is guaranteed to evoke one word for anyone familiar with the artist: Maus. His Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel (to date, the only one to be so […]
Preparing for Pesach in the Year 5785
We are less than a month away from Pesach, which in the mind of the Jew means it may as well be tomorrow. In fact, if you’re just thinking about […]
Finding My Jewish Voice in the Land of 10,000 Lakes
Growing up in New York, being Jewish was as natural as breathing – it was everywhere, woven into the fabric of daily life. Kosher delis dotted every neighborhood, Yiddish phrases […]
Hidden Histories, Kosher Kitchens, and a Scoop of Gelato: Jewish Life in Puerto Rico
When you think of Puerto Rico, words like ‘vibrant’ and ‘colorful’ likely come to mind. You might picture Caribbean beaches, cobblestone streets, and Hispanic influences. And you’d be right. Puerto […]