Finding Strength and Support in My Community
I remember when I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I was shocked and upset, depressed and crying - but in a way, I was also relieved. There was a name for what I was feeling, for what I was doing.
Listen: The Power of Tekiah Gedolah
“Wake up, wake up, you sleepers from your sleep, and awake you slumberers from your slumber.” (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Teshuvah 3:4)
What Does it Really Mean To Be “The Chosen People”?
On the first day of Shavuot, we read in Exodus 19 that God declares to the Israelites assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai:
Lag BaOmer Is a Time to Connect with Our Ancestors
May 26th will mark the Jewish festival of Lag BaOmer which – like, Shavuot and Hanukkah – is not mentioned in the Torah.
What My Parents' Deaths Taught Me About Family
My mom died on January 24 at the age of 94. Eight weeks, later my dad died. He was 95. They had just celebrated their 73rd anniversary.
My brother the doctor said the cause of my dad’s death was a “medical mystery.” I claim that he died because he willed himself to do so.
If You’re Reading This, You Are Probably Among the Jews’ Saving Remnant
Shavuot is an ideal time to contemplate the brit (covenant) that God made with the Israelites, and its impact on the Jewish experience to this day.
Developing our Own Holiness Code
When I discovered that this week’s parashah (Torah portion) would be Acharei Mot/K'doshim, which includes the Holiness Code, the irony was not lost on me.
Move Your Body, Strengthen Your Soul
There was a time in my life where I had a lot of trouble sleeping.
Spain to Sephardic Jews: “Sorry, Please Come Home” - But Will They?
The expulsion of the Jews from Spain on July 31, 1492, occurred on the same day as the destruction of the first and second Jerusalem Temples.
Why is the Mi Shebeirach So Meaningful?
The Mi Shebeirach, a Jewish prayer for healing, has been set to music by several contemporary Jewish musicians, including the late Debbie Friedman.