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 »
By Jennifer Saber “MOM!!! Didn’t you see that kid on the bicycle? I saw him. How did you not see him?!” I heard my son shriek from the passenger seat as I rolled to a halt in the crosswalk before making a right turn at the busy intersection. My heart skipped a beat. Had my Continue Reading »
by Kendra Walz I have recently been inundated with wedding invites and pregnancy announcements from my friends. For me, this means carefully planning out handmade gifts, from crochet bags to quilts. Crafting is a rich tradition found in the cultures and identity of many ancient peoples, and the Jews are no exception. Hiddur mitzvah has Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin Two weeks ago, I joined a large rally outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Nearly 1,000 New Yorkers attended, including Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Iranian community leaders. The demonstration was organized by the Jewish civil rights group #EndJewHatred, together with several interfaith and civil Continue Reading »
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