women and ritual

That Time the Lulav Made Me Cry

I love the holiday season – I even love a three day yontif (yom tov, or holiday).  With the exception ...

One Small Sound for Women, One Large Blast for Womankind.

On the first day of Rosh Hashana I was invited to call the kolot (sounds) for the shofar. I must ...

Stories My Mother Never Told: My Bat Mitzvah Speech

“Stories My Mother Never Told” is a three-part blog series dedicated to re-envisioning what it can mean for parents and ...

(Outside) The Gates Of Prayer

On Shabbat, the 2nd of Av, about a week before Jews across the world fasted to mourn the destruction of ...

How the Unnecessary Became Necessary

I come from a rather Modern Orthodox, Ashkenazi family that is composed mostly of women. The only male in my ...

Candle Lighting’s Power to Connect and Transform Us

I’m thinking a lot about Shabbat candle lighting nowadays, in part because I’m awaiting the birth of my first grandchild ...

Women’s Megillah Reading in a Small Town–Some Tips From Our 5th Year

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — we are the capital city of the Commonwealth. No, Pennsylvania’s capital is not in Philadelphia. Several years ago ...