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"Take a moment to settle in to being here," I say aloud. My eyes are closed, but I know there are three other people in the room this morning. I heard them walk in, each to their own place in the sanctuary, and I wait until the sounds of their arrival have

A couple of weekends ago, I did something totally beyond my comfort zone. Along with 20 other Jewish activists, I attended a contemplative, mostly silent, meditation retreat through the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.

In June, I saw a post in a local Facebook group that intrigued me: "Stop! Take a break! Join us for Group Meditation in the City."

With this notice, a young couple, Hadas and Netanel Cohen, invited Nahariyanis  (residents of Nahariya, Israel, where I live) to

Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, does not offer simple answers. As we enter this sacred time, here are five questions to help elevate the day with deeper meaning.

As I wrestled with my feelings after October 7th, I found that poetry offered me an unexpected outlet. Whether reflecting on the lives lost, the joy of seeing hostages come home, or the comfort I found in our traditions, writing gave me a respite from the complex emotions I was experiencing.

As the shofar’s call approaches and we step into the sacred space of a new year, we are invited to hold two truths at once: that our lives matter beyond measure, and that we are but a small part of a vast and unfolding universe.

I came across a deeply troubling poll released by the Israel Democracy Institute. It found that 79% of Israeli Jews reported being “not so troubled” or “not troubled at all” by reports of famine and humanitarian suffering in Gaza. I imagine an equally large number of Palestinians are not troubled by the suffering of Israeli hostages. It made me think, how can we ever end this war if we can’t end the war on empathy?

Kids have plenty of ways to connect with Judaism. But one route goes underrecognized: Jewish books.

In the fifth grade, I aged out of my synagogue’s High Holidays kiddie services. Countless Jewish families have faced this dilemma over the years. Many of us consider Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur the only two occasions when attending services is mandatory.

As a Jew, do you feel welcomed and safe to express your authentic self in all aspects of your life? As an educator, I've championed identity safe classrooms, based on research that indicates when students’ identities are affirmed, they perform better in school.