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The holiday of Shavuot is about to be upon us this coming Friday (yes it really is that soon), but for a moment, I’d like to revisit the (twice) recently-passed holiday of Passover. Not to talk about the Seder or social distancing, but particularly about the most difficult part: the cleaning. At the end of…

According to figures from the Census Bureau, American companies sold more than $17.5 million worth of face masks, over $13.6 million in surgical garments and more than $27.2 million in ventilators to China during January and February of this year.  While President Trump was receiving briefings that the coronavirus was headed toward the US, he…

It has long been said that music can soothe the savage beast. For some it can be used as a form of communication, meditation, or therapy, while for others it can serve as an aid in getting through times that are emotionally or physically straining. It can connect us to times past or forgotten and…

For both personal and professional reasons, I’ve moved a lot. Seven states all together, not counting the duplicates (California twice, three times in Illinois). That’s also meant changing synagogues. I’ve got the routine down. Meet the rabbi. Get in good with whoever runs Sisterhood, because that’s who’s really in charge. Volunteer for something to meet…

There are three things that have been and still are pretty consistent throughout Jewish history. Firstly: the entire world, whether overtly or otherwise, has it out for us. Secondly: In order to survive, we need to stay a step or three ahead of our enemies and detractors. Thirdly, for every negative and terrible calamity the…

Family can be difficult. Maybe you’ve got overbearing parents or under/overachieving siblings. Most people have at least one aunt or uncle battling addiction of some sort, or problems with money. Maybe grandparents whom you love, but whose views about certain issues such as race and sexuality can be a sore spot of conversation in our…

Are Jews from outside of established communities less Jewish? Or are they more Jewish because they embody the “lost,” more authentic, and traditional ways of being Jewish? I am neither less Jewish nor more authentic as a Jew from Japan, which does not have a long-standing, continuous Jewish presence. I am simply a Jewish person…

“Upon an enemy who attacks you, sound the trumpets.” (Bemidbar 10:9) This is to say about everything that pains you such as…a plague, cry out about them…and this is the path of repentance…that everyone will know it’s because of their bad deeds that this evil is upon them…and this will cause them to remove the…

My heart is beating a bit fast, and I explained to my 14 year-old carefully, speaking almost syllable by syllable to make sure that he is actually listening and understands, “I have sent you by Whatsapp my teudat zehut, my identity card. Yours is on the slip of paper beneath it. It is proof of…

On March 31st, Politico released an article hailing the Coronavirus chokehold on New York City as “an equalizer," quoting Greater New York Hospital Association President Kenneth Raske as saying “everybody’s in the same boat.” Calling the Coronavirus an "equalizer" is something one could only say from a place of advantage over others. Yes, the virus…

“Hey! Grab what you can and let’s bounce! Moses said we out!” “But, I just put some bread...” “MAAAAN! Ain't nobody got time for that! Moses said we out and it ain’t gonna long before Pharaoh changes his mind…again! Grab what you can and let’s GO!” In my imagination, this is how we…

The Torah teaches us that we are ‘to guard ourselves very well’ and to ‘guard ourselves and our souls’. Preserving life and health is a cornerstone of Judaism. The Talmud teaches that we are to ‘obey the law of the land.’ Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a virus that has caused unprecedented levels of serious illness in…

As an adoptee and a convert having a connection to my heritage is important to me. Specifically because my identity as a child was so entwined with the mystery of my birth and birth family, I’ve clung to what little information was provided by the adoption agency. I was always told that I was Irish…