Pray

The Growth and Development of an Independent, Observant Minyan

Kol Sasson Congregation was founded in Skokie, Illinois in 2003 as a Shira Hadasha-style minyan. At first, we met on ...

Name the Problem, Not the Person

I’m a skeptic when it comes to believing that every cloud has a silver lining. Some clouds do of course, ...

The Soul You Have Given Me (And The Spirits, Too)…

I grew up and live now in New Orleans. When people think of religion in New Orleans, they might think ...

The Dangers of Winning the Lottery

 Every once in a while we hear a story about a lottery winner whose fate takes a drastic turn for ...

Finding My Voice Through the Book of Ruth

I have always fancied myself as a feminist. When I was in primary school, I remember arguing with one of ...

Two Women Make a Quorum

As I wrote in The Torch last fall, I started attending the early morning minyan at my synagogue with the ...

How Do You Pray?

As a Jewish woman living in the South, who proudly identifies as a spiritual person, I am often engaged in ...

Challenging our Assumptions about Women’s Inclusion

“You should volunteer to lead the Orthodox minyan, prayer services, you have the opportunity to make a Kiddush HaShem, sanctification ...

At Purim, We Shall Overcome

This past week I had the pleasure of attending the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference. With inspiring speakers, ...

A Daughter’s Response to “Mincha in the Midwest”

This past Simchat Torah, my mother began planning her synagogue’s first women’s mincha, afternoon service. She was inspired by the ...

Welcoming the Bride Modern Style

 Since I released my latest music video, “Boee Kala,” many friends, fellow musicians, and community members have asked me questions ...

The Most Profound Prayer

It is somewhat of an exaggeration to say that Judaism has a blessing for everything. But only somewhat. After all, ...