July 2015

Looking in the Mirror

There is an old tale of a man who was searching for the finest archer and came upon a barn covered ...

“Do As I Say, Not As I Do”… Still Doesn’t Work

I need strength, humility, courage, patience. Strength to control my passions, humility to assess my own worth, courage to rise ...

Looking Back On Abortion

Last week, a new study on abortion found that while the decision is hard for most women, no matter class, ...

Reflections from a Former Matchmaker

Tu B’Av was once a day when unwed women of Jerusalem dressed in white and congregated in local vineyards to ...

From Monsey to Istanbul

Whenever I visit somewhere new, whether in my country of origin or somewhere foreign, I typically stand on the periphery ...

Love Thy Neighbor. (Except On Email?)

One of my hobbies is chicken keeping. My municipality allows small flocks of hens (no roosters — too loud) within ...

Our Quest for Holiness at the JOFA UK Conference

Although the official subtitle of last month’s London JOFA conference was “Reinforcing Tradition through Renewal,” what I took away from ...

Sleepaway Camp and Mixed Emotions

A few days ago Jennifer Weiner wrote about her daughter’s communications from camp. Yesterday my husband and I dropped off ...

What Makes A House A (Jewish) Home?

The mezuzah isn't a finishing touch, but a starting point.

Tu B’Av and (Self) Love

Tu B’Av may be considered a minor Jewish holiday, but it feels especially appropriate to recognize in light of the ...