by Nina Woldin While this coming Shabbat, January 21, is National Hugging Day, we like to think that every day is (Inter)national Hugging Day at Chai Mitzvah! Hugging has been described as a handshake from the heart. The simple action of embracing creates feel-good energy for both the giver and the recipient. National Hugging Day Continue Reading »
by Michalee Merritt What is the definition of Community? A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals. From the Oxford language dictionary I began to think about all the communities that Continue Reading »
By Reb Deb At Services this past Friday evening right before New Year’s Eve, I asked my congregants what they hoped for in the New Year 2023. While it might have been phrased differently by each one who responded to my query, the common thread was that people hoped for a better sense of connection: Continue Reading »
Once upon a time in Kansas City, Missouri, the many members of a venerated Reform temple formed a large, happy community. It then happened that part of the congregation split away from “the mother ship” and formed a separate, smaller, but equally happy community in a suburb of the city called Overland Park. Following the Continue Reading »
by Michalee Merritt I am sitting and looking at all the hanukkiot (menorahs) at the end of my dining room table, right by the window. I think about how they grew from one menorah to five. My husband and I had one. When my daughter Hannah was born she was given a Winnie the Pooh Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin We light the first Chanukah candle on Sunday evening, December 18, so last week I found myself thinking about Chanukah – which translates as dedication – the rededication of the Temple after reclaiming it from our enemies. I was lucky to lead two Chai Mitzvah groups where we spoke about dedication Continue Reading »
by Jill Maidhof Would you go to a bank in which the employees will talk to you about your tennis game, your favorite recipe, the car you drive and the age of your children — anything, that is, except money, because that’s too personal, or too forward, or outside the bounds of polite conversation?? Contemporary Continue Reading »
By Reb Deb I have been thinking recently about how important “community” is in my life and how being part of different communities impacts my sense of well-being. During this season of gratitude, I want to express how grateful I am and how fortunate I feel to be part of the Chai Mitzvah community, both Continue Reading »
by Audrey Lichter From our inception in 2009, Chai Mitzvah has always had as one of our core missions that of community engagement, both on an individual and communal level. This core value has distinguished our work from many excellent Jewish educational programs. So today, at our weekly staff visioning meeting, we were discussing how Continue Reading »
By Michalee Merritt Living in New England it seems that the weather goes straight from hot and humid summer to cold dark fall. These past first weeks of November have been surprisingly warm. I have been taking long walks listening to the crunch of the leaves beneath my feet. As I’ve walked, I’ve thought about Continue Reading »
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