By Michalee Merritt I heard about Chai Mitzvah years ago. It took me some time to decide that I wanted to bring the idea to my synagogue and friends. It was the kind of program that interested me, and I liked the easy-to-use sourcebooks with supplemental materials. Questions for discussion were right there for us Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin “Would you like to have more children?” my obstetrician asked me at a checkup decades ago. I thought about it seriously. My three girls were then 5, 10, and 14. “If I had unlimited time and unlimited money, I think I would,” was my answer. “Oh,” replied my doctor, “then you Continue Reading »
by Rabbi Debra Smith As I enter my 73rd year today, I am reflecting back on the trajectory of my life in the Jewish world. Years ago, my mother gave me a mug that I still have. It says, “Love what you do, do what you love.“ That quote has shaped my professional Jewish journey Continue Reading »
by Michalee Merritt On June 17th, I was honored along with my husband Mark at our synagogue. We were being honored for our deep commitment to the Greater Hartford Jewish Community. I am not going to list all the Jewish organizations that we’ve been involved with. Instead, I am going to tell you why! During Continue Reading »
By Audrey Lichter I have spent most of the last 2 months 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island on Block Island. This island community boasts over 20,000 people during the summer and fewer than 1,200 over the late fall through the winter and into the early spring. Over 5 ferries stream into the Continue Reading »
By Nina Fondiller Woldin It was Thursday night, and we were just wrapping up a wonderful 10XSTRONGER virtual class. The group included both familiar faces and new members, and we were sharing our experiences of what it means to be recognized as Jews today. Some individuals wore Jewish symbols openly, while others discreetly placed the Continue Reading »
by Rabbi Deb Smith This past week, I had the pleasure of attending a Jewish Journaling Group for the first time. The group is sponsored by The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, New Jersey. This is a wonderful museum that I toured last summer. It features exhibits, photos, and memorabilia from throughout Jewish history Continue Reading »
by Michalee Merritt Shavuot means “weeks” in Hebrew and marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer. It also commemorates the date when G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai. What do we do on Shavuot? We have all-night study sessions. (Chai Mitzvah has some great materials for you) Chai Continue Reading »
by Audrey Lichter Let me say at the outset, I am not a fan of moral ambivalence. I do believe that there are certain fundamental truths that we should aspire to. Lately, though, I’ve been struck by how little appetite we have for nuance and complexity. We say, for example, that religion teaches love and Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin The Sunday before last was Mother’s Day, and we spent it with our kids in Hoboken – eldest daughter, son-in-law, and two wonderful grandsons, aged 9 and 5. We spent the day at an Israel Fair featuring rides, activities, delicious falafel, and even Druze delicacies. Imagine this… we are standing at Continue Reading »
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