As many of you know, Max and I made the journey to Boston in January so that Zohara could be seen by a specialized surgeon to repair her very rare congenital heart defect. Thank God, the surgery was a success. There are many lessons from this trip that I will carry with me throughout my life. I studied this week's Torah portion, Yitro, through my new perspective. I took a deep exhale, and I returned to the text that reminds us all that it's okay to not only take help when it is offered, but to ask for it as well. As the portion tells us, Moses was busy trying to manage the Israelites, and Jethro could tell Moses was overwhelmed-so much so that he basically told Moses that he would burn-out if he continued to lead in this way - doing everything on his own. Moses couldn't be everything to everybody. Jethro reminded Moses, "the task is too heavy, you cannot do it alone." (Ex. 18:18) I know I am not the only person going through something tough right now. We all have, are currently, or … [Read more...]

Holy Energy of the World, as we ring in the secular New Year, may you strengthen our steps as we move toward the long sought after feeling of new beginnings and changing tides. God of the hopeful and the optimists, may we see our visions fulfilled, that we may find a world with cleaner air, a healthier community, and a world made up of helpers. God of the timid and the pessimists, may we push through the friction of a fractured society, checking in on our neighbors and the stranger in our midst to make sure that we carry one another forward. God of the tired and the weary, may we find the courage from the deepest parts of our soul to continue to place one foot in front of the other. As we pray for healing to the sick, strength and steadiness to the doctors, nurses, caregivers, and frontline workers, we also pray for the mourners, those who are trying to return to their new normal in already uncertain times. We pray for the mothers, too tired to pick up another shift, We pray for the … [Read more...]

Max and I moved into our first home this summer. As we explored our street, we took a look at the doorposts of the other houses, looking for mezuzot, trying to see if we were the only Jewish family on the block. We found one other home and brought them challot for Shabbat to extend a sort of "Hello, you're not the only Jewish family on the block anymore!" At this Chanukah season, we will retake a walk around the block, and perhaps those without mezuzot may still have a Chanukah menorah shining proudly from their living room window, letting the light of their Jewish pride shine out into the world. My prayer for our community is that we put Jewish pride at the forefront of our minds - that we proudly display chanukiyot in our front windows - and that such a display allows us to connect with other Jewish families in our neighborhood. It's a lonely world out there these days. This year, I pray that the light of the menorah will act as a reminder that though we may be distant, we are not … [Read more...]

Well, friends, it might feel like Passover all over again. Unlike many other groups of people, we have been here before. We celebrated the Passover holiday with Zoom seders, outdoor, socially distant spreads, and the realization that this year just wasn't going to look like years past. It's time to do it again as we lean into the American side of our American-Jewish or Jewish-American identities and celebrate Thanksgiving. As we sit down to our Thanksgiving tables, more than ever, we may recognize who is missing. Some of us will look around the table and realize that this isn't the table we usually sit at for our Thanksgiving meal. Some of us, those who are the usual hosts, will look around at where our friends and family have sat in years past and think about who will fill those seats when it is safe to gather indoors again. Some of us, like at every holiday, will call to mind the memory of the last Thanksgiving we spent with beloved friends or relatives, who are only with us in … [Read more...]

Holy Energy of the World, I ask that you spread a sukkat shalom, a shelter of peace over those tasked with the accurate, safe, and honest counting of our citizens’ ballots. God of the anxious and the weary, provide a calming presence to those glued to their phones, computer screens, and televisions as they continually hit refresh. Guide them on a path toward screen breaks and fresh air. God of the timid and the afraid, may our streets be protected from violence, outrage, and a lashing out against the other. May storefronts, homes, and buildings be protected from damage and harm. God of the quiet voice within, may the citizens of this country find the courage to fight for justice for their neighbors each and every day. God of strength and goodness, once the election is decided, may we each move forward, placing one foot in front of the other, extending a hand to those who have fallen, and continuing to lift up those in need. May we all engage in the necessary work to heal our divisions, … [Read more...]