Life lessons

Jewish tradition ordains that girls automatically reach religious maturity at the age of twelve. But historically a girl’s transition from child to adult was not marked communally, either in or outside a synagogue. Women had no part in the public reading of the Torah, except as listeners, segregated in the women’s gallery. Thus, when bat mitzvah emerged as a regularized rite in the Jewish lifecycle of a girl, the procedure varied from synagogue to synagogue and evolved over time. For American Jews, this process famously began in 1922 (two years after women were guaranteed the right to vote in the...

The conclusion of the ceremony is marked by the groom (and sometimes the bride now) stamping on a glass and smashing it underfoot. It is the official signal to cheer, dance, shout “Mazel Tov!” and start partying!   Aside from this, what does it mean?As in all things Jewish, there are a variety of interpretations, here are a few: A representation of the fragility of human relationships and a reminder that marriage will change your life (hopefully for the good) forever. A superstition that the loud noise is supposed to drive away evil spirits. A break with the past: the marriage...

Jewish Mother jokes - it is one of those love/hate relationships. We find them funny and also somewhat insulting - and at the same time! Jewish women are portrayed as being loud and demanding. But let's face it, that is what it takes to get things done in this world. So maybe these are traits to embrace and be proud of. So in honor of all the Jewish Mamalas, Tantes and Bubbies (and let's not forget the Machatunim), let's celebrate strong women - and have a laugh too!How many Jewish mothers does it take to change a lightbulb? None: “I’ll...

What is more important to the seder than the six items on the seder plate that symbolize the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. It’s designed to help us imagine ourselves in our ancestors’ shoes — not only are we supposed to tell the story of Passover, but we’re also supposed to see, smell, taste, and feel it.As traditional as the seder plate may be, there’s actually room for some creative flourishes. While most Jewish households stick to the classic six items mentioned in the Haggadah — shank bone, egg, two kinds of bitter herbs, vegetable, and maror (charoset) — you can...

International Women’s Day is here again, and with it the opportunity to highlight women’s contributions to history, society and politics — and, of course, to sell stuff.But how did the day get started? Some point to Russian communist roots; others claim an American origin story. The truth is that it’s neither and both. International Women’s Day began with a Russian-born Jewish woman in New York City, before traveling to the Soviet Union and back again.For International Women’s Day, here are 7 of history’s greatest women-led protestsTheresa Serber Malkiel was born in 1874 in the Russian Empire, in an area now...