Before the song: On Passover, Miriam leads with rhythm when the path is unclear
Miriam leads not through words or commands but through rhythm, movement, and shared presence. Her tambourine becomes a structure that others can enter.
Jewish Holidays
The hidden well: Exploring Miriam's leadership as a source of hope in war's shadow
A voice of praise: Why this Haggadah puts Miriam at the center of the Exodus
Passover reimagined: How Jews reinterpret freedom at the Seder table
Simchat Torah: Celebrating and honoring authentic Jewish values
Which messages of Torah are we meant to celebrate and honor as our legacy on Simchat Torah?
Light after October 7: A Simchat Torah reflection from an American Jew
This, I think, is the message of Simchat Torah: to hold firmly in one’s imagination the joyful possibility of a year made truly new.
Sukkot: Finding peace in a fragile sukkah
The structures may be temporary, but creating them with attention to these minute details allows God’s presence to dwell among us.
‘Yizkor’ - short story
The word yizkor means 'He shall remember.'
Simchat Torah: Divine fire and national legacy
Should Torah exist apart from society or be fully integrated within it?
Simchat Torah: From torn shoes to a crown of majesty
The great secret of the Jewish people has always been the ability to join tear to tear, soul to soul, until together they form a whole garment once again.
A mindful Sukkot: Finding peace in the present moment
As you step into the sukkah, or pause anywhere in your day, may you discover that joy is not distant or elusive. It is here, waiting, in the present moment.
Sukkot after Oct. 7: A sign of our humility and trust in God
The sukkah reminds us that we are not so powerful. We must be humble and remember that everything we eat, everything we own, and our military successes all depend on God.
The ‘etrog’ wars: How the Ottoman Empire turned a sacred fruit into a global commodity
From the groves of Corfu and Cephalonia to the orchards of Tiberias and Jaffa, the saga of the etrog under Ottoman rule reveals how a fruit became entangled in struggles of faith and trade.
A holiday to remember: Celebrating Sukkot in 1946
I was a seven-year-old army brat, a Norfolk Tars baseball fan, and my father, Lt.-Col. Louis Geffen, had finally completed his six-year tour of duty as a judge advocate in World War II.
