Last week I saw a Facebook post which got me all emotional in a defensive way, and, after some (not enough) reflection, I commented, even though I was aware that my opinion might not be well-received. I rationalized my decision to comment by telling myself that if we only comment on posts that we agree… Continue reading Do I Really Want Facebook to Just Be Pictures of Babies and Food?
Gender can be a very hot-button topic (ahem, understatement). So can Religion. It’s not surprising that discussions of gender roles in Judaism can get very heated. I’ve watched op-eds fly across the interwebs, but with a certain amount of detachment. Gender issues aren’t anything that I get particularly worked up about. When I became Orthodox, I… Continue reading A Review of Circle, Arrow, Spiral: Exploring Gender in Judaism
We’ve done road trips for years. Multi-day ones, with a whole system to keep the kids occupied. We’ve always traveled during daylight hours, mainly. Until this past Saturday night. After spending the last days of the high holiday season with family in Cleveland, my husband’s work schedule combined with the time Shabbos ended meant that we… Continue reading A Light in the Darkness
Our phone rang immediately after last Shabbos, and when I went to screen the call see who it was, I saw my mother’s cell phone number on the caller i.d. But when I answered, it was my father on the line, which was unusual (I usually call him, and on their land line). He told… Continue reading Why We Don’t Do What We Know Is Good For Us
Disclaimer: I did lots of linking to the glossary this week, as this post is pretty heavy on the Yiddish and Hebrew vocab. I usually make an effort to use English where possible, but this week’s subject matter didn’t really allow for that. I’ll try to make next week’s post more English-based. Dating. Did you groan when you… Continue reading A Segulah to Get Married
{Howdy! This post is up on Aish.com in a revised form. If you wanna read it, go here} I don’t really feel like writing. There are a number of excuses I could use: There’s a lot of housework to do; it’s a beautiful day out; my nails are too long (no, really, it bothers me when… Continue reading Why Religious Hypocrisy Isn’t A Deal Breaker For Me
We’re in the thick of the high holidays now. Rosh Hashanah is behind us (hope you had a good one!), Yom Kippur is awaiting us, and we find ourselves in the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, the Ten Days of Repentance. Some of us may even be fasting today, since it’s Tzom Gedalia. This is the time of… Continue reading Divine Intervention and a Stuffed Animal
Before I publish this post, I must say that I am completely consumed by the escalating situation in Israel. I feel funny posting about anything else. So, because mitzvos help protect us, these are good Psalms to say at a time like this: 130, 121, 83, 20, 91 & 143. Also, check out the Shmira… Continue reading Shul Experiences
Unfortunately, Ayala Pamela bas Leah (Pamela Nagy Weisfeld) passed away today (August 20th). We can still do good deeds as a merit for her soul. May her family be comforted, and may we only share in simchas. Some upsetting news came down through the Facebook grapevine yesterday: Pamela was at Neve at the same time… Continue reading Good Deeds for Recovery from Illness
I’ve always enjoyed learning, When I was in seminary, I applied myself vigorously to my studies. I loved to learn in English, in Hebrew, on my own, with a partner, in class. Loved it. I wanted to keep it up forever. In my innocent, naive single way, I imagined that I would always be able… Continue reading Learn something Jewish – Win an Ipad
Rivki Silver ~ thoughts & music 