Finding Peace in the Early Morning Hours Every morning, before starting my day, I take time to sit in solitude. I pray, meditate, read from the Torah, and set my intentions for the day. Sometimes, this morning routine is effortless; other times, not so much. The weight of the world is weighing heavily on my shoulders. My mind turns to the hostages still held captive in Gaza and all those who have experienced the devastation of antisemitic attacks. At the... Read more
May the memories of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim forever be a blessing. Embracing the Old Ways One thing that I remember about both of my Grandmothers is that they loved to work with their hands. They cooked and baked from scratch and grew gardens. I have such sweet memories of colorful, fresh vegetables piled on their kitchen tables, yummy made-from-scratch dinners, and delicious homemade baked goods. These memories not only evoke a sense of nostalgia for the way life... Read more
Once, when I was a little girl, I decided I wanted a different name. Kelley no longer suited me. Instead, I wanted to be called something drastically different: Shelley. I told my teacher, and she kindly followed along. This seems strange, but apparently, kids sometimes do this. Nevertheless, after a short time, I got over my strange little identity crisis. Fast-forward many years, and I would again pick a new name. The difference is that this time, I knew exactly... Read more
Learning to Listen to Hashem When I was a small child, I loved to jump off things. Sometimes these literal leaps of faith turned out fine; other times, they were disastrous. Once, my uncle took me swimming, but before he could put on my floaties, I rushed straight to the pool and jumped into the deep end. He yelled for me to stop, but I wasn’t listening. I was “doggie paddling” around the pool, living my best life there, utterly... Read more
The First Goodbye Saying goodbye is never easy. When I was about 9 years old, my family and I moved from our house to an apartment on the other side of the city. On moving day, just before we loaded the last of our things on the truck, I stowed away to bid a quick and final farewell to the house. My last stop was at a rose bush in the backyard. During all the years we lived there, its... Read more
First Things First To those who have lost friends and family as a result of the October 7th attack, you are in my prayers. May the memory of your loved ones be a blessing. And may those still being held captive in Gaza be immediately released and returned safely to their families. Bring them home now. The Chaos That Lies Beneath Early each morning, before the rest of the house awakens, I sit in peaceful solitude and watch the sun... Read more
You know how a good laugh makes you forget about your troubles, even if it is just for a few minutes? That’s what Purim does for me—only the effects last much longer. This joyful celebration centers around the book of Esther and includes nonstop laughter, festive costumes, and lots of noise makers. It is a kid-centered holiday, but oh-so-good for the grown-up soul. Truthfully, I am still experiencing post-Purim joy even though it was weeks ago, which makes me... Read more
The Transformative Power of Ruth’s Story Let’s face it, loyalty and true unconditional love can be difficult to find in this world. Throughout our lives, people come and go, and some, unfortunately, leave us with painful scars that take years to heal. However, there is more to life than just emotional struggle and I believe the change starts with us. When we become the person we want to find in the world, God will chase us with blessings. Since embarking... Read more
This winter I’ve been exploring Jewish comfort foods and among my greatest discoveries is the beloved potato Kugel. It’s simple, delicious, and an important part of the Jewish heritage. So, if you’re interested in learning more about the history of this versatile and scrumptious side dish you are in the right place. In addition to the story of potato kugel, I’ll share my experience making this Jewish delicacy including my favorite recipe. A Brief History of the Potato Kugel Kugel... Read more
Do you get the Winter blues? The lack of sunshine, vitamin D depletion, and a disruption in the circadian rhythm can all lead to sadness during the colder months and I’ll be the first to admit I fall victim to the winter blues each year. It’s usually about this time when the lightbulb goes off and I am suddenly aware that I’ve been feeling down in the dumps. The fast pace of life has kept me so preoccupied that the... Read more
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