Jewish Holidays

This year, Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, finds me in a place that the past 10 years have not: in my birth country, the United States. My journey to and from Israel includes chapters that people can instinctively understand: a year of protesting judicial overhaul in Israel, the events of October 7th, and the bitter war in which we are still immersed.

The Nevas family's history is deeply rooted in their desire to make a positive impact on the world. This year's Seder, marked the next chapter in the family's tradition.

As we gather around the Seder table this year, let's defy the divisions of our polarized world and model a different way of being together.

Passover is soon approaching! Below are some of our favorite Passover resources, selected to help your seder preparations go more smoothly.

Being the Jewish part of an interfaith family isn't without its challenges. Especially when, like me, being the Jewish influence in my family is because I converted after I was married.

Right before Sukkot, I noticed the word "JEW" carved into my sidewalk. I began to grind out the word, but rather decided to replace the space by adding "Proud JEWs" to the sidewalk.

At Fat Torah, Hanukkah is our favorite holiday. Hanukkah in particular is a holiday that celebrates fat. On Hanukkah, we remember that miraculous oil that was meant to only last for one day and ended up lighting the rededicated Temple in Jerusalem for eight days. Eating foods fried in oil, in fat, is a key part of this commemoration.

"Winterfaith" seems a much more apt description for me than "interfaith." We're not observing two religions; I was raised Jewish, and my partner was not. The winter holidays are when our "interfaith" background proves to be the most challenging.

Slow cooking is nothing new. The Sephardi stew adefina dates back to the Spanish Inquisition, and cholent (another Shabbat stew) is thought to also have roots in Spain.

As we celebrate the joyous holiday of Sukkot and approach election day, we are reminded of the importance of shelter, community, and social justice. The sukkah, a temporary dwelling, symbolizes our vulnerability and dependence on others. It's a powerful metaphor for the interconnectedness of our society and the impact of our actions on our broader community.