I was born into my Jewish family in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, around the time modern Americans were celebrating 200 years since Christian pioneers formally took control of the land they conquered from previous inhabitants. Though my religious great-grandparents fled our enemies in Europe and emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s, … Continue reading Morasha Kehilla: Why I started using my Hebrew name (full version)
Israeli Olives
I recently picked out some fresh Israeli olives from a makolet here in the north. In the Torah, the olive is a symbol of holiness, beauty, rejuvenation and peace. The olive is also one of the seven sacred species (shivat minim) of Eretz Yisrael. It’s been 10 weeks since my family and I crossed the … Continue reading Israeli Olives
Birthday Blessings
I awoke at 5:30 am today to the sound of Bedouin men in the neighboring village chanting their prayers (Usually I wake up at 6:30 to the songs of busy yellow-beaked Eurasian blackbirds outside my window and on the roof.). Their chanting was so hauntingly mesmerizing that it gently carried me from asleep to awake… … Continue reading Birthday Blessings
Tree, My Teacher
Six weeks ago we made Aliyah. There are ups and downs, mundane and transcendent moments sometimes all mixed up together. Here, in Eretz Yisrael, I can see and feel the glory of G-d with more depth, but I’m still human. There are times when G-d feels hidden, and, during those difficult moments, I am learning … Continue reading Tree, My Teacher
Full Moon Feelings in Eretz Yisrael
Why can't I just feel "good"? I keep resisting whatever this is inside. The uneasiness is hard to explain. Like I'm uncomfortable within my body, here in this place. What is this place? It's not where I'm meant to be. Not really, anyway. My soul knows; it's not natural. But I -- like other souls … Continue reading Full Moon Feelings in Eretz Yisrael
My First Time: A Magical Visit to the Kotel
By Mindy Morasha Rubenstein This morning I pressed my forehead against the cool limestone of the Kotel, the Western Wall in Jerusalem. How can it be that I was actually there? For years I longingly watched the Kotel live online. It was like a dream — a place only others were fortunate enough to visit. … Continue reading My First Time: A Magical Visit to the Kotel
Aliyah Journey – Part 3
We sit here in gray plastic chairs at the airport waiting for Israel to process us and make us official. We made it through the 12-hour flight, skipping over Tuesday night and going right into Wednesday morning. I told the kids it’s like daylight savings time, but instead of losing one hour, we lost seven. … Continue reading Aliyah Journey – Part 3
Aliyah Journal – Part 2
August 24-29 | 27 Av-2 Elul, 5782 We received our official approval from the Jewish Agency, tentatively confirmed our Nefesh B'Nefesh sponsored flight, and then, finally, our precious Visas arrived. I'm typing this with a feeling of disbelief and awe, because there were so many months, details and decisions, paperwork and interviews, and then this … Continue reading Aliyah Journal – Part 2
Aliyah Journal – Part 1
August 9-14, 2022 | 13-17 Av 5782 I was never a Zionist. In fact, through much of my life I didn’t even realize I had any connection to the Land of Israel. I naively thought it was simply a country, like any other, that happened to have Jewish people living there. Mindy Rubenstein I first … Continue reading Aliyah Journal – Part 1
I Know What ‘Choice’ Feels Like…
My friends, family, even my own children have voiced passionate opinions over the recent uproar and rhetoric regarding conception-related choices. While I tend to keep my personal opinions on heated topics to myself, I do want to share a bit about what I know. I know what it feels like to watch an ultrasound monitor … Continue reading I Know What ‘Choice’ Feels Like…
Mindy Morasha 