Hidden Quarters
Rabbi Yoel Gold relates the following story. He was shopping at a local Jewish supermarket in LA and as he was checking out he heard someone calling his name. He turned around and saw a woman running towards him. She said, ‘Rabbi Gold! I have a great story for you.’ Now, as someone who is […]
Read MoreWeisberg Gardens
Today I received a package notice for “Weisberg Gardens.” I was confused until I realized that this was an auto-translation of my name Jenny into Hebrew: ג’ני Or (as Israelis often misspell it) גני. This reminded me of my two names, Chana and Jenny, and how sometimes people I meet ask me what I prefer […]
Read MoreFirst Comes Love
“Chinuch” means education. This felt like an important reminder in the middle of these parenting-intensive weeks of summer vacation. Love first. Without love, you can’t educate. Since I read this earlier today, I feel like my mothering touch has softened, gotten lighter, grown a smile.
Read MoreBuilding Jerusalem: One Jewish Home at a Time by Rabbi
Building Jerusalem: One Jewish Home at a Time by Rabbi Menachem Nissel
Read MoreA Stormy Tour by the Temple Mount
Yesterday, towards the end of the fast, I went on a walking tour through the Muslim and Christian Quarters in order to see some of the gates leading to the Temple Mount. It was a powerful experience. To see the actual Temple Mount through those ancient gates. And to be that close to the Holy […]
Read MoreIf It’s Your Will, Hashem
As the mother of daughters of a certain age, in search of their soulmates, I should have these words written on the insides of my eyelids so I remember them ALWAYS!
Read MoreThrough God’s Eyes
David was the youngest of 8 impressive, accomplished older brothers. They were tall, he was short. They were warriors, he was a shepherd left behind to tend the family’s sheep. They looked like they were well-suited to be the King of Israel. But Hashem knew otherwise. Hashem, also, sees your potential, your special gifts, your […]
Read MoreWhat You Expect, What God Sees
This is a good reminder for me as I’m resting up the day after the bat mitzvah (i.e., it is 2:30 PM and I’m still in bed). I worked so hard pulling all the details together, and there were so many last-minute bloopers and unplanned imperfections. But b”H, my bat mitzvah girl was over the […]
Read MoreMazal Tov to my Bat Mitzvah Girl, Tsofia Bat Tsion!
We all just came home from Tsofia’s wonderful bat mitzvah party. Here’s a photo I found of Tsofia from 12 years ago! What a grown-up beautiful and special girl she has grown up into💜
Read MoreUS and Israeli Flags Flying Over Jerusalem
It’s been 29 years since I left the US to live in Israel, but seeing the US and Israeli flags on Jerusalem’s Chords Bridge in honor of the current Presidential visit seriously warmed the heart of this long-time expat, yet still proud Israeli-American. [this great photo taken by the President’s DC neighbor, my sister-in-law Cecily.] […]
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