You don’t have to wait until Tu BiShvat – the birthday of the trees – to begin growing your Jewish practice. Growth starts long before the holiday arrives, quietly and steadily, beneath the surface. In this video, I talk about why starting small now matters: choosing one practice, one learning goal, and one community step […]
What to Begin Now Before Tu BiShvat Read Post »
The Jewish month of Shvat is often described as the month of roots – a time when growth begins underground, long before anything is visible. If you’re at the beginning of your Jewish journey and things feel slow or quiet, that doesn’t mean nothing is happening. This is the season for laying foundations and letting
How the Month of Shvat Supports New Jewish Beginnings Read Post »
The Jewish month of Tevet arrives quietly, after the lights of Hanukkah fade and winter fully settles in. The siege of Jerusalem remembered on the fast day of Asarah B’Tevet wasn’t destruction all at once – it was the slow tightening that came before it, ending in the destruction of the first Beit HaMikdash, the
Tevet: The Jewish Season Between Light and Collapse Read Post »
If you’re new to Jewish fasting, Asarah B’Tevet can feel intimidating – especially if you’ve only heard about fasting as an all-or-nothing endurance test. But Jewish fasting isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are many valid ways to observe a fast day with intention, care, and spiritual meaning – including options for people who can’t fast safely. In
The Easiest Jewish Fast to Try (Seriously) Read Post »
Planning the year the Jewish way can feel intimidating – especially if you’re new to Jewish life, still learning the calendar, or trying to build something meaningful without burning out. The holidays blur together, the expectations feel unclear, and it can seem like everyone else already knows what they’re doing. The truth is, you don’t
Planning Your Year the Jewish Way Read Post »
If you’re converting to Judaism and Christmas is coming up, you’re probably wondering what you’re supposed to do – and you may not feel comfortable asking out loud. Christmas is one of the most emotionally complicated days of the year for Jewish conversion candidates in Europe and North America. It’s a religious holiday, a family
If explaining Hanukkah to your non-Jewish family (or friends, coworkers, boss, etc) feels harder than celebrating it, you’re in good company. Every year, as soon as the menorahs come out, the questions start rolling in: “Are you still doing Christmas with us?” “Why not celebrate both?” “What does Hanukkah even mean?” and the dreaded “So
The Questions Every Jewish Convert Dreads in December… Read Post »
Your first Hanukkah can feel weirdly high-stakes for something involving tiny candles and fried potatoes. When do you light, what do you say, where do you put the menorah, and how do you know you’re “doing it right” if you don’t have a community around you yet? If that’s you, breathe. You can celebrate Hanukkah
Hanukkah 101: What’s Required and What’s Optional Read Post »
Finding a meaningful gift for someone in the middle of converting to Judaism — or celebrating becoming Jewish — can feel unexpectedly tricky. (Or for this person at Hanukkah! Or maybe you’re making a wish list for yourself?) You want to honor the moment, mark their hard work, and choose something that actually fits their
Some Jewish rituals look… well, a little creepy at first. Covered mirrors. Candlelit searches. Burying books. Guarding the dead. If you only caught a glimpse of them out of context, you might think Judaism leans dark or even morbid—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Each of these practices is a lesson in compassion,
Jewish Rituals That Sound Creepy (Until You Understand Them) Read Post »