higher purpose Yom Kippur is called the holiest day of the year. But what does holy really mean? In Hebrew, the word is קֹדֶשׁ (kodesh), from the root קדש which means “set apart.” Something holy is separated from the ordinary so it can be dedicated to a higher purpose. Shabbat is holy because it is … Continue reading Yom Kippur: Science & Spirit
"For this mitzvah which I gift you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far away. It is not in heaven… But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it.” (Devarim 30:11–14) The “word” is Torah, truth, and G-d’s light … Continue reading Many Rooms, One Jewish Woman
Here in Eretz Yisrael, as the heavy heat of summer finally eases, you can feel the season shifting. The nights cool, the air softens, and the earth prepares for rain. Grapes and figs have been harvested, the balance of the equinox arrives, and a new moon rises in the autumn sky. This is not the … Continue reading Rosh Hashanah Is Not the Real New Year
For women in recovery, the language of guilt and judgment is familiar — and often toxic. But real healing doesn’t come from shame. It comes from connecting with a Higher Power and living from our higher self. That’s the essence of recovery, and it can also be the essence of this season if we choose … Continue reading Reframing Rosh Hashanah: From Judgment to Renewal
Rosh Hashanah begins with food that is also prayer. We dip apples into honey, we bake round challot, we place pomegranates on the table. These are not just traditions but symbols of what we long for in the year ahead. The word that threads through it all is חיים – Chayim – Life. Why Apples … Continue reading Apples, Honey, and the Feminine Breath of Life
By Jessica Savitt Jessica Savitt is a former dietitian and longtime teacher of English, biology, and chemistry. She made aliyah to Haifa from New Jersey by herself in 2021, intending to set up a home in Israel for when the rest of her family would hopefully want to make aliyah. She is currently working as … Continue reading Redemption, Teshuva, and the Month of Elul
In Hebrew, the words for man and woman are full of meaning: אִישׁ (Ish – Man) אִשָּׁה (Ishah – Woman) Both share the letters א (Aleph) and ש (Shin). These two letters form the word אֵשׁ (Esh – Fire). But each has one extra letter: Man has י (Yud) Woman has ה (Hey) Together, י … Continue reading The Fire Between Man and Woman — How to Keep It Holy
I sit here in "Mechina Ivrit." It's like Ulpan, but not Ulpan. The classroom has more than 20 desks lining the walls in a half circle, but there are only four of us in the class now. I started last month, slipping into the class as it seemed to already have its own rhythm. I … Continue reading What is “Mechina Ivrit”?
When I first found my way to Yiddishkeit at age 30 through Chabad, my soul lit up. Truly—it felt like a fire inside me. I wanted to do everything right. Every mitzvah. Every minhag. Every detail. I devoured learning. I soaked in every class, every Shabbos meal, every moment that felt holy. I wanted all … Continue reading Finding My Way Back: Rekindling My Jewish Journey
By Mindy Rubenstein Shavuot begins this evening, as we’re reminded of the most powerful moment in our history — when the Jewish people stood together at Mount Sinai and received the Torah, our Divine blueprint for life. The word Shavuot means "weeks," referring to the seven weeks of spiritual preparation between Pesach and this moment. … Continue reading Shavuot: Turn Toward the Light
Mindy Morasha 