by Kendra Walz A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog post investigating the “Jewish saints” discussed in Michael Frank’s book, One Hundred Saturdays, which explores the Sephardic Jewish community on the island of Rhodes. In that post, I noted that the only “Jewish saint” I could think of was Saint Edith, a Jewish Continue Reading »
By Nina Fondiller Woldin I have just returned from four weeks of cross-country travel in a 19-foot camper van. It is the eleventh time I have made this trip. The catalyst for our very first journey was COVID-19. At the beginning of the pandemic, my daughter on the West Coast gave birth to her second Continue Reading »
by Kendra Walz Over Yom Kippur, I decided to sit down and read an entire book within 24 hours. The book was One Hundred Saturdays by Michael Frank—a nonfiction account of Stella Levi and the Sephardic Jewish community that once thrived on the Greek island of Rhodes. Early in the narrative, Stella describes the folk Continue Reading »
Jennifer K. Saber I hit “end” on the call and let out a deep sigh of relief. It was two days before Yom Kippur, and I had finally gotten around to ordering bagels and schmear for the thirty ravenous people coming to my house to break the fast this year. As I dialed the number, Continue Reading »
By Nina Fondiller Woldin Labor Day often feels like the bittersweet boundary line between summer and fall—a long weekend defined by barbecues, final beach trips, and end-of-season sales. Yet at its core, the holiday was established to recognize the dignity, contributions, and rights of the working person. It was 10:30 on a Tuesday night when Continue Reading »
by Rabbi Deb Smith Source of all that is: You are our Light and our Comfort. We seek to dwell in Your tent In comfort and in grace. Source of time and seasons: You are the Guardian of Justice and Peace For all who dwell under Your heavens. May we be inscribed in the Book Continue Reading »
by Audrey Lichter Why am I so obsessed with Israel? I listen daily to at least three podcasts about Israel. I tune in to i24 News throughout the day for the latest developments. I scour The Wall Street Journal and our local paper for anything that has to do with Israel. I send checks to Continue Reading »
By Jennifer K. Saber “If I have done anything to hurt or offend you this past year, I hope you can forgive me.” Deep sigh. I glance down at my phone and see that familiar text. The one that gets me bent out of shape every year around the High Holidays. Why does this bother Continue Reading »
by Kendra Walz Recently, on a road trip to Toronto, somebody said something to me that I found to be odd. They said that decorating a prayer book was “a big no-no”, in reference to the rules of Judaism. I found this to be a surprising claim considering that all siddurim I have seen appear Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin Did you look up at the sky last Friday night and see that spectacular orange moon? While science explains its striking color, the moon has always sparked deep spiritual reflection. (And “reflection” is the perfect word, since moonbeams are just the moon reflecting the sun’s light!) Photo: Henry Fieldston In fact, Continue Reading »
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