With the commemoration of the destruction of the Temple that once stood in Jerusalem, the last two months of the year (Tammuz and Av) are recalled in Jewish history as a darker time, in which conflict, brokenness and baseless hatred ruled the day. In this other dimension, we have harder days to travel before arriving at the newness and light that the high holidays bring.
Living “Both/And” Lives
Living a “both… and” life is not always simple, but it reflects the truth about our lives. And that truth is complex.
Turning Toward, Not Away
Living in Jerusalem right now, I am deeply concerned about the brewing violence in our mixed Jewish-Arab cities, (which, as it turns out, comprises most of Israel’s urban life). I also know that turning toward each other is so much more important than turning away.
Keeping Faith Even When Afraid
While there is no limit to opinion pieces you will read in the coming days which express concern, outrage, and the deeply held political opinions on either side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I feel called to write about the role of parents during times of conflict, violence and duress
Thank You Mothers
I spend so much of my time thinking about my identity as a mother. But in these days leading up to Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 9th, I am moved to think about my identity as a daughter.
Flexing Different Muscles
Given the recent violence in Israel between extremist groups, and the relative youth of those who were swept up in the violence, I am moved to write this week about […]
We are always in process
I wanted to give you a sneak peek of a piece I wrote for Limmud North America’s initiative 49 Steps: Jewish Ideas in your inbox from Passover to Shavuot. The […]
An Insight Around Boundary Setting
There’s a phrase from the Haggadah that I have glossed over every Passover, but this year, as I prepare for the seder, it struck me. We were slaves to Pharaoh […]
A Simple Passover Activity
With Passover just over a week away, I want to share a memory from a year ago. I am sitting with my immediate family on our coach. My kids, looking […]
The Power of a Good Question
We used to live in a world of answers. We knew when we put dates on our calendars, they happened. We knew school would be open in the morning and that our kids would […]
Open yourself to the transition
I think a lot about transitions when it comes to my kids. For one of my children, it’s quite hard. Each moment expands and takes on its own meaning, its […]
Here’s to Laughter!
Purim is here! Finally, we get to laugh a little!!! Author Anne Lamott is quoted as saying, “Laughter is a bubbly, effervescent form of holiness” she even calls it “subversive.” […]
Worry Less, Rejoice More
You know the old adage “You are only as happy as your most unhappy child”?… So in the spirit of the Purim holiday, which begins February 25th and celebrates reversals […]
A Different Calling Out
There’s a new hotline that the New York Times opened last week called the Primal Scream Line. It is capturing the exhaustion, rage, and overwhelm of mothers who have been carrying […]
What Your Kids are Learning this Year
And while there will be tons of research written about this period and the impact that it has had on our children and their learning, my hope is that there will be some research about what they did learn over these past long months. I think as parents, we learned these lessons well too.
From Fatigue to Hope
On this Tu B’Shevat (the Jewish festival that celebrates the new year of the trees) how can we continue to learn resilience from the natural world?
Celebrating the Potential for Change
The change of Tu B’shevat reminds us that change happens in an ecosystem. Every tree, blade of grass and patch of earth has a role to play in the health of the system. So too with our families.
How to Build Character in Your Children
Like many of you, I have been glued to the news in the U.S. over the past week. A mob storming the Capitol building in Washington D.C. A president’s speech […]
A Prayer for 2021
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I remember seeing a cartoon in my inbox. The setting was 20 years in the future. A parent and child were having a conversation that went something like this: “Remember that COVID-19 pandemic?” asked the child.
Keeping Faith in our Kids
Faith challenges us to “keep faith” in our children and the core belief that they are born capable, with the potential to grow and change.
