“Mom, he’s got a gun!” I hear my 17-year-old son, Levi, scream from the den where he’s doing his homework. I race to him faster than a cheetah pursuing a wildebeest. When I get to the den, Levi’s sitting on the couch, his computer open on his lap, the television blasting. My 14-year-old son, Joe,…
Pictured above: Masada and Ruth Siegel show off their arrangements at the Arizona Flower Market. At a party recently, a high school friend approached my husband and cheekily said, “You do realize your wife Masada is going to turn into her Jewish mother. Are you prepared for that?” My husband, responded, “I should be so…
As one might expect of the Jewish state, the holy days of the Jewish religion are national holidays. A good example is the holiday of Shavuot, which this year begins on Saturday night, May 19. While it is possible to go about one’s business in the diaspora without even realizing that Shavuot has come and…
Pictured above: A golden path takes visitors on an interactive walking route through the history of Tel Aviv. Photo by Ricky Rachman While Tel Aviv is known around the world for its technology startups, restaurants and nightlife, art galleries and architecture, its history is often overlooked. A new interactive tourist site aims to change that,…
I’ve been running most of my life to catch up with myself. Whether it’s answering emails or paying bills, putting away laundry or finishing a story, I race through the day picking up the remains of all I haven’t done. This is not a habit I’ve developed as an adult; it’s a tendency I’ve had…
On Thursday, May 3, NowGen and Women’s Philanthropy, in partnership with the Jewish Book Council will present an Evening with Annabelle Gurwitch. Annabelle Gurwitch is an actress, activist and New York Times bestselling author. Her recent collection of essays on family Wherever You Go, There They Are, Stories about My Family You Might Relate To…
In the words of Rodney Dangerfield, Shavuot, “Can’t get no respect.” Even Rodney likely knew little about the holiday. How can Shavuot compete with hamantaschen on Purim, gelt and jelly doughnuts on Chanukah, matzah on Passover or the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah? Shavuot has no dire consequences like Yom Kippur. And yet, poor old Shavuot…
