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 »
by Rabbi Debra Smith Erev Tisha B’Av, I gathered with my community to commemorate this solemn holy day and to share thoughts on its relevance in 2026. Together our group reviewed, remembered, and honored this day by naming all the historical calamities that have befallen the Jewish people throughout history: the destruction of the First Continue Reading »
by Jennifer Saber “Socks! AirPods! Deodorant!” I yell up the stairs. Every. Single. Morning. Welcome to my least favorite five minutes of the day. One child is already sitting in the driver’s seat, ready to leave for high school. Meanwhile, her brother is racing back upstairs because he forgot something. They’re headed to the same Continue Reading »
by Kendra Walz The Torah tells us that things inevitably fall apart, sometimes over and over again. In Exodus, when Moses saw that the Jews had built a golden calf, he took the stone tablets he had just received from God and smashed them into pieces on the ground. God proceeded to give him a Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin Like all the boats on our dock, we raised flags on our mast this weekend in honor of July 4. Our neighbor raised the USA 250 flag. We considered raising the American/Israeli flag, as we did last year… and then reconsidered. As a child, I was taught that religious freedom was Continue Reading »
by Audrey Lichter “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Proverbs 27:6) In last week’s parsha, we learned that Balaam was summoned by Balak to curse the Jewish people. Instead, he could only bless them. Digging deeper into these so-called blessings, however, we learn in Sanhedrin 105b Continue Reading »
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