The Chai Mitzvah Blog

Water Your Jewish Garden

Posted on February 12, 2024

by Jill Maidhof “What did you learn today that you didn’t already know?”  This is the way I greet my grandson after a morning of religious school. He tells me he learned the 10 Commandments and when I ask, “which one?,” he  says “all of them.” “That’s great!” I say, but what I’m thinking is Continue Reading »

Views from the Southwest

Posted on February 5, 2024

by Audrey Lichter View from JCC/Federation Salt Lake City I highly recommend visiting Jewish communities around the country. I have  just returned from a trip visiting 10 cities in the Southwest combining Chai Mitzvah meetings with some sight seeing and vacation. I met with Synagogues, JCC’s, Federations, a potential donor, and itinerant educators. Here are Continue Reading »

Holocaust Remembrance Day 2024: Love of Life, Joy, and Acts of Loving Kindness.

Posted on January 29, 2024

by Nina Fondiller Woldin Last Saturday night I was on the way to a friend’s house for dinner when I faced a motorcade of cars flying Palestinian flags. It even included a sign truck comparing Israel to the Nazis.  I hoped that this reminded those who were not aware, that Saturday was International Holocaust Remembrance Continue Reading »

MLK and Shabbat of Love

Posted on January 19, 2024

by Michalee Merritt This week began with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and is ending with the Shabbat of Love. Martin Luther King, Jr. influenced people around the world, He advocated for peaceful approaches to some of our society’s biggest problems.  You might be surprised to know that he was deeply connected to the Jewish Continue Reading »

Our Fractured Planet

Posted on January 15, 2024

by Reb Deb Smith This blog is dedicated to all the endangered species, and all the species that are now extinct due to our carelessness and our human footprint on the natural world. I have always had the reputation in my family of being a “weather weenie.” I have the Weather app on my phone Continue Reading »

The Last Time

Posted on January 8, 2024

by Jill Maidhof I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but today I helped myself to a small swig. I was preparing to teach 6th – 8th graders, and those kids* are fast. They talk fast, they think fast and they’re quick to challenge or try to outwit me. I love it all — I Continue Reading »

Assumptions

Posted on January 2, 2024

by Audrey Lichter At a stop in Hartland Vermont this past week, we were greeted by this sign at the door of a diner/market.  According to Wikipedia, Hartland has a little over 3,000 residents: 1, 270 households and 900 families. The racial makeup of the town is 98.57% white… Yet flying on a flag outside Continue Reading »

How to Be A Source of Light in this Season

Posted on December 24, 2023

by Nina Fondiller Woldin There is an Instagram post by @sefiracreative that has been circulating recently. It addresses a phenomenon that has cast a shadow over many of us since October 7: Antisemitism online. The post gives ten “ways to detox” from this affliction… Put away your phone Take a walk Learn/practice Jewish prayer Call Continue Reading »

Have You Heard the News?

Posted on December 18, 2023

by Michalee Merritt Chai Mitzvah is always thinking about new ways to increase community and engagement. We try to be on the cusp on what people want. So I hope that you have heard or seen the news about our NEW Scholars Circle!   SCHOLARS CIRCLE Where Chai Mitzvah will provide an ever-growing collection of Continue Reading »

Keep the lights eternally burning in Eretz Yisrael

Posted on December 11, 2023

by Rabbi Debra Smith Dear friends, Chag Urim Sameach! Happy Hanukkah! The joy of Hanukkah and the brightness of the lights has been dimmed in my household because of the War in Israel. My heart is heavy for the victims of such horrific violence. This week in my blog, I offer this prayer which speaks Continue Reading »

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