In search of a low-waste frum life.
I feel a bit of a letdown when we, during sefiras haomer, leave off from davening “mashiv haruach u’morid hageshem” in the Amidah. Those words have always touched me, evoking how HaShem’s spirit hovered on the face of the waters at the beginning of His acts of creation. Our rav, Rabbi Aaron David Lebovics, gave... Continue Reading →
“It would have been enough,” we sing each year at the seder table. At our seder, it’s one of the most spirited songs. Probably at your seder, too. But I wonder, have modern Jews, especially those of us in America, where consumption is a national pastime, lost the ability to tell what “enough” looks like?... Continue Reading →
One week before Purim, I had a goal: I wanted to make the mishloach manot that my husband and I give to friends as plastic-free and low-waste as possible. Unfortunately, what I didn’t have was a plan for how to make that happen. I had come up with two great ideas, but both ideas required... Continue Reading →
It’s almost Shavuos, but this week I have been thinking back to Lag b’Omer and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and Rabbi Elazar hiding for 12 years from the Romans in a cave. Where were we, digitally speaking, 12 years ago? We were already standing in the cave (l’havdil) that is the online world, and we’ve... Continue Reading →
From the dryer to the fire. How to make great firestarters, plus thinking about lashon hara.
It’s almost Purim, and I’m beyond excited. It’s my second-favorite Jewish Holiday (Sukkos can’t be surpassed in my heart). I love the achdus of sending and receiving mishloach manot, especially in Cleveland, where we don’t see so much of our neighbors in the cold and dreary months. I love the incredible creativity of costumes and... Continue Reading →
