First Rain
This past Thursday evening we were hosting a group of German tourists, and between the salad and soup courses I went out for a little walk. And then, out of nowhere, I saw lightning. And then thunder. And then more lightning. And then, for the first time since last spring, there was RAIN!!! So I […]
Read MoreParshat Bereishit on 1st Broadcasted Space Flight
In 1961, Soviet Astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to travel in space. He famously quipped after returning to Earth, “I looked and looked and looked, but I didn’t see God.” In contrast, 7 years later in December 1968, 3 NASA crew members became the first people to broadcast pictures of Earth, taken from […]
Read MoreHow I Don’t Forget my New Year’s Resolutions
After the Chagim, I write all of my resolutions for the new year into my online calendar, so they repeat every week til next Rosh Hashana. For example, this morning I scheduled my google calendar so every Tuesday at 10 AM my phone will flash with the reminder “Conforming is so 4th grade, express your […]
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A Letter to God the Day After Simchat Torah
Dear Hashem, During the past month I blew a ram’s horn ate a fish head swung a chicken around my head dressed in a suit and sneakers then wore a white robe prayed and fasted for 25 hours built a tent with a bamboo ceiling and then ate all my meals in it (sometimes in […]
Read MoreBye Bye Succot🥹🤍
My husband took this beautiful photo of Hoshana Raba at the Kotel this morning. I’m going to be sad to close up my Succah later today, more than most years, cause of something I heard earlier this week from Reb. Shira Smiles. She asked why the Ushpizin (and their wives, according to the Belzer Rebbes) […]
Read MoreYoni’s 3rd Shabbat Shirt
My 8-year-old Yoni enjoyed Shabbat Chol HaMoed. His shirts, less so
Read MoreThe Original Opening Song from Fiddler on the Roof
Turns out the original opening song to Fiddler on the Roof was supposed to be this great musical tribute to a Jewish woman’s weekly race against the clock before sundown on Friday. Listening to this, I can’t help but think of all the Jews in the audience who didn’t keep Shabbat, but would have felt […]
Read MoreChana Jenny, Why Do You Really Cover Your Hair?
Last Friday night we hosted 38 Australian tourists. As usual, after we served the soup, my husband announced “If you have any questions you’ve ever wanted to ask an Orthodox rabbi, fire away. I’ve got all night.” Their first question was the most common question he gets asked, “Could you please tell us about those […]
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