Category Archives: Holidays

Shemini Passover: The holiness of discernment

Well, here we are in the middle of Passover, yet as always, there is another weekly Torah portion.  This time, it’s Shemini, and in my beautiful precious JPS Mikraot G’dolot, (it’s a big book with the bi-lingual Torah text and … Continue reading

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Passover: finding meaning in the ritual

It’s spring!  Well, not really, but it’s Passover, so it might as well be spring.  The spring-ish weather can find us delving into our spring rituals.  Get the bicycles out.  Clean the grill.   Maybe clean a few closets or something. … Continue reading

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Passover 2013: Standing at the Wall of Liberation

I started leading women’s Seders about 25 years ago, and I was late to the table, so to speak.  My sister Jan Salzman, who is now a rabbi, got our family started with a homemade Haggadah, and my two sisters … Continue reading

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Chanukah – 8th candle

Years ago I found an article in the Chicago Jewish News that laid out eight gifts for Chanukah, none of which cost a thing.  I don’t know the author;  I wish I did.  But for at least a decade, our … Continue reading

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Chanukah – 7th candle

Years ago I found an article in the Chicago Jewish News that laid out eight gifts for Chanukah, none of which cost a thing.  I don’t know the author;  I wish I did.  But for at least a decade, our … Continue reading

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Chanukah – 6th candle

Years ago I found an article in the Chicago Jewish News that laid out eight gifts for Chanukah, none of which cost a thing.  I don’t know the author;  I wish I did.  But for at least a decade, our … Continue reading

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Chanukah – 5th candle

Years ago I found an article in the Chicago Jewish News that laid out eight gifts for Chanukah, none of which cost a thing.  I don’t know the author;  I wish I did.  But for at least a decade, our … Continue reading

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Miketz: what a name invokes

This is a really long parasha.  A lot happens in the hundred-plus verses that covers Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams all the way through the visits from Jospeh’s brothers twice, and the emotional moment when Joseph reveals his identity to … Continue reading

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Chanukah – 4th candle

Years ago I found an article in the Chicago Jewish News that laid out eight gifts for Chanukah, none of which cost a thing.  I don’t know the author;  I wish I did.  But for at least a decade, our … Continue reading

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Chanukah – 3rd candle

Years ago I found an article in the Chicago Jewish News that laid out eight gifts for Chanukah, none of which cost a thing.  I don’t know the author;  I wish I did.  But for at least a decade, our … Continue reading

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