An Ordinary Extraordinary Shabbat

Last Friday evening we hosted the extended family of a bar mitzvah boy from LA. 18 people in all. Grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles and cousins. On Friday afternoon the family’s tour guide called to convey an urgent request: the group members are very strict about not eating pork. Could we please refrain from including […]
Read MoreThe Shehechiyanu Heard Round the World

Earlier today, a young man who is very, very dear to my family stood underneath a chuppah with his new bride. This wedding is taking place in Avnei Hefetz, in the northwestern corner of the Shomron. The kind of place Israelis refer to as “the end of the World, turn left.” But when I heard […]
Read MoreThe 2 Foundations of Marriage: Love and Washing Dishes

I’m writing this from the wedding of Hovav and Hallel, the couple that my daughter set up. Wow! Do I love being the mother of the shadchanit! It adds such a special rush of excitement to an already amazing simcha! I wanted to share a highlight from the beautiful chuppah, Hallel and Hovav glowing, the […]
Read MoreBiometric Passports and Covering Our Eyes During Shema by Reb. Shira Smiles

There’s only one Hashem, and there’s only one you.
Read MoreWhen Your Child Wants to Play Monopoly by Amit and Nadav Naveh

In honor of Father’s Day, another highly relatable video from this hilarious father-son duo.
Read MoreSure-to-Make-You-Smile Tefilat Chana by Ruchama ben Yosef

For the last few weeks I’ve been doing something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, I’ve been listening my way through the entire Bible (as an audio book) from start to finish. Today I got to Chana’s prayer which she says after she gave birth to Shmuel and dedicates him to a lifetime […]
Read MoreRuchama ben Yosef: Singing My Way Through Infertility

[Originally posted in 2012] When Ruchama ben Yosef, the oldest of 11 children, got married at the age of 19, it did not even occur to her that she might be infertile. But less than a year after she married, she was told by doctors that she would be unable to conceive without medical intervention. […]
Read MoreDaughter of the King?

Noa Yaron Dayan and Dana Veron set the story straight regarding Judaism’s view of women.
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