Parshas Vayishlach – Wrestling with Angels and New Names

In this week's parsha, Yaakov famously wrestles with Esav's angel, gaining an injury and the name Israel.  In the Torah, every nation has its own angel watching over it and we've already learned that Esav is destined to be a mighty nation in his own right.  The struggle is dramatic and costs Yaakov, injuring his …

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The Dark Side of the Moon

I remember vividly watching Apollo 13 for the first time, particularly the nervous part where the endangered astronauts pass to the dark side of the moon.  Because the moon is between them and earth, there is radio silence.  They're unable to communicate with the world outside and are left in an anxious state of separation, …

Thanksgiving Kosher

Thanksgiving couldn't be more timely for our family this year.  We've gotten so bogged down with so many things and it's easy to lose sight of being grateful for what we have.  Thanksgiving in Alaska comes during the deepening darkness leading up to the winter solstice, a time that can seem particularly dark even as …

The Darker Side of Kiruv

I hesitated writing this post.  I never want to speak ill of the Jewish people, even isolated parts because I understand how someone reading my words might take that to be all Orthodox Jews, particularly if they've had little to no experiences with other Orthodox Jews.  I also hesitated because I kept wondering if what …

The Deepest, Darkest Winter

All things must live in darkness before they are born.  Seeds sprout underground, hidden in the dirt and animals live either in their mother's wombs or in eggs until they are ready for the world.  Today, the sun doesn't rise until 9:12am and it will set at 4:16.  Candle lighting time is earlier than that, …

Welcoming Strangers?

I've been fortunate to travel to different Jewish communities during my years as a conversion candidate and it's always interesting how different different Orthodox communities can be.  Every single one has its own personality and subtle differences and it's neat to see all the different directions people in different places take their Judaism. The downside …

Parshas Chayei Sarah – Big Shoes To Fill

In this week's parsha, Sarah, the spiritual mother of all Jews and particularly of converts, dies and is the first person to be buried in the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, the only piece of the land promised to Abraham that he would actually own in his lifetime, but a promise for more.  Rivka …

Shabbos, Cold and Dark

Last Shabbos, I was curled up in my arctic sleeping bag.  Granted, that particular sleeping bag was a little overkill for the night we were having.  The temperature in the RV was only in the 40's, not below zero.  Still, it was a taste of things to come as we each did what we needed …