From Israel Bonds To Am Yisrael Chai
My grandma never gave me toys for my birthday or for Hanukkah. I didn’t get books or action figures or video games or baseball cards or any of the things […]
October 10, 2023
October 10, 2023
A Surreal Simchat Torah
As my son-in-law walked through the door on Simchat Torah morning, the look on his face told me that the sirens, which had woken us up several times, had definitely […]
August 31, 2023
How Do We Connect To ‘You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah’?
Like it or not, “You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah” not only exists but is soaring in popularity in both Jewish and secular circles. As Jews, whether we […]
August 22, 2023
‘Funny Girl’ Casting Decision Rains on the Parade of Jewish Theater Fans Across the Globe
The opening performance of the Broadway revival of Parade was punctuated by a Neo-Nazi protest. Antisemitism rates in the United States are currently skyrocketing to levels unreached since the Holocaust. […]
August 18, 2023
Elul, My Favorite Month
I know, I know. The month of Elul should inspire awe and fear. I have heard stories of people in previous generations who would tremble when Rosh Chodesh Elul (the […]
July 18, 2023
At Auschwitz, A Letter To My Grandfather
The most intense day of my life just happened. Our group toured Auschwitz-Birkenau today and I’ve been dreading stepping foot on the exact platform my grandfather arrived at almost 80 […]
July 14, 2023
My Mother’s Unconventional Memorial
When the rabbi agreed to come for my mother’s pizza party memorial, my sister, father, and I were surprised. Mom’s untraditional wish to be cremated and surrounded by pizza, something […]
June 9, 2023
Parenting Goals
When you become a parent, you naturally fast-forward in your mind to what kind of person your child will eventually become. You have hopes and dreams and aspirations for your […]
May 26, 2023
To Covet or Not To Covet
A FEW DAYS BEFORE Shavuot some years back, I got an intriguing invitation from Rabbi Zalman at Chabad, who was putting together a Tikkun Leil (special evening service) for the […]
May 12, 2023
A Motherless Mother’s Day
I was 20 years old when I experienced my first Mother’s Day without my Mom, eight months after her death. She had lived 10 years fighting Breast Cancer and eventually, […]