Life lessons

In Judaism, remembrance plays a profound role in connecting generations and honoring the memories of departed loved ones. When my mother passed away a few years ago a friend said to me that our parents are the guiding light in our lives. This is so true and lighting the yarzheit reminds me of that. Several years earlier when my father passed I looked for a yahrzeit candle and realized that they were mainly the jelly jar food store variety. Naturally I went into my studio and created one. And although I know that some people prefer the traditional candle, I...

In honor of all the Jewish Mamalas, Tantes and Bubbies (and let's not forget the Machatunim), the ones who are with us today, and the ones in blessed memory, let's celebrate Mother's Day with a little humor! What do you get when 500 Jewish mothers convert to Catholicism?Critical Mass.What do a Jewish mother-in-law and 60 Minutes have in common?They both always start with tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk...Mona Lisa's Jewish Mother: "After all the money your father and I spent on braces, this you call a smile?"Mama invited 16 people for Sabbath dinner. At the table, she...

The "Woman of Valor" saying is derived from a Hebrew poem called "Eishet Chayil," which appears in the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible. The poem is a hymn of praise to the virtues and accomplishments of a virtuous woman. It describes her as someone who possesses inner strength, wisdom, and compassion. The "Eishet Chayil" poem has been recited and revered in Jewish homes for centuries, often as a tribute to wives and mothers.But the concept of the "Woman of Valor" is not limited to Jewish tradition alone. Similar expressions exist in various cultures and religions around the world....

Yiddish is a unique blend of Hebrew, German, Slavic, and Romance languages, with roots in the Ashkenazi Jewish world.  It is a rich and expressive language in literature, music, art, dance, and theater exploring Jewish life and culture.  Many artists grew up speaking Yiddish in their homes, and some wrote or performed in it.  Think of such diverse talents as Isaac Bashevis Singer, Sholem Aleichem, Franz Kafka, Sarah Bernhardt, Itzhak Perlman, Mandy Patinkin, and Mel Brooks.  And let us not forget Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Dr Ruth Westheimer, and that famous Shabbos Goy - Elvis Presley! It has had a significant impact on the...

Honestly, the concept for this post came from the idea of taking a vacation, which leads to "where to", which leads to "I wonder if there are any interesting Jewish historical sites to see there." Having been an Art History major (with architecture being a particular love of mine), this is not an unusual rabbit hole for me to fall into. Whether in person or virtually, if we're going to be traveling, why not take a look at some beautiful and historic synagogues around the world? Aside from the home, the most important symbol of Jewish life is the Synagogue, where...