Rabbi Sandra Cohen

Rabbi Sandra Cohen (she/her/hers) works in mental health outreach in religious communities across North America, as well as teaching rabbinic texts in a variety of contexts from her home in Denver. She can be found at rabbisandracohen.org.

Why Pray?

Rabbi Sandra Cohen
The reality is, one never knows whether someone else is suffering from an acute illness. A broken leg is obvious; a broken spirit, not so much. Many of us contend with invisible illnesses, whether physical, such as Multiple Sclerosis or chronic migraines; or mental, like anxiety or schizophrenia.
Dictionary entry for grateful

Our Needs Are a Gift of God

Rabbi Sandra Cohen
This prayer from Birkot HaShachar, the traditional morning blessings, reminds us to be grateful when we awake for every day. 
Cross stiched image of a broken heart being sewn back together with white thread

With Wounds Still Open, We Ask: Where is God?

Rabbi Sandra Cohen
I do not believe that God sent us COVID-19, and I do not believe God will cure it. That is for humans to do, using our God-given intellect and ambition to develop the vaccines and treatments that will help stop the spread of this natural virus.
Silhouette of a man and a woman with their backs facing one another as if arguing

Rebuking with Love: How to Do it and Why it Matters

Rabbi Sandra Cohen

Rebuke, תוכחה, when done correctly, looks for an opening, a sympathetic moment or shared memory to draw upon. Before reproving the other, we first join them. Once we are allies, our words urging change might be heard.

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