books and reading · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · religion · writing

Patheos will blow your mind…

And yet again, another reprint for “From Ghetto Girl to Rabbi’s Wife”, this time on Patheos. Patheos is a fascinating new website that hopes to help people understand the origins, history, and beliefs of the world’s religions. Patheos was recently featured in a Time magazine article, “What Do Other Religions Believe? A Website With Answers”.

books and reading · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · writing

Welcoming the New Jew

In “Welcoming the New Jew”, I review a memoir by Reform convert Sally Srok Friedes. Her book, “The New Jew” is fresh, funny and engaging even as it takes us to the painful twists and turns of acclimating oneself to the Jewish community. This book has a great deal to teach every movement in the… Continue reading Welcoming the New Jew

food · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · Shabbos/Shabbat · Shavuot · writing

Happy Shavuot!

Now, it’s time to go turn into a pumpkin. At least, that’s the funny phrase my sisters came up with for what happens when I cut away from the world (no phones, no Internet, nothing but Torah)! for a Jewish holiday or for Shabbat.  It’s rainy, I haven’t had enough exercise and my whole body… Continue reading Happy Shavuot!

culture/multiculturalism · Hispanics/Latinos · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · rabbi · race/racism · Shavuot · writing

Conversion & Shavuot

My latest piece is up on the OU website. Check out “Conversion is So Not Original”.

Israel · New York · writing

Happy Jerusalem Day!

Ah for Yom Yerushalayim, I am recycling an old post about my first day in Israel, where I stayed in Jerusalem. Read “Fish Out of Water” and chuckle at my pathetic attempt to survive outside of New York!

books and reading · chronic pain/fibromyalgia · depression · writing

Learning to Say No

I am learning my limitations. And accepting them. It sounds simple enough but for an overachiever who doesn’t quit until her body does, I’ve discovered a knack for never turning down a chance to overwork myself silly. And yet, in the past few weeks, I have been turning down assignments. It’s like I’m in an… Continue reading Learning to Say No

culture/multiculturalism · Hispanics/Latinos · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · writing

Check Me Out!

One of my pieces, “From Ghetto Girl to Rabbi’s Wife” has made its debut on The Jewish Writing Project blog. Be sure to check it out!

chronic pain/fibromyalgia · depression · services · Shabbos/Shabbat · writing

Pain, Pain, Go Away…

When someone came up to me today and asked me about fibromyalgia, I thought it was pretty fitting. After all, today is National Fibromyalgia Awareness day. Why is there such a day? Well, most people, unless they suffer from it or have loved ones who suffer from it, have never heard of fibromyalgia. Some doctors… Continue reading Pain, Pain, Go Away…

babies and pregnancy · chronic pain/fibromyalgia · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · news · parenting · speaking · Twitter · writing

Seriously, people?

Few people seem to take me seriously. I guess it doesn’t help that a lot of the time, I don’t take myself seriously. I rarely answer the question, “So what do you do?” In fact, I avoid it at all costs. Because people give you rather smug smiles when you say you’re writing a book.… Continue reading Seriously, people?

books and reading · chronic pain/fibromyalgia · fans · happiness · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · prayer · rabbi · writing

The Conversion Process

According to CNN, Americans aren’t losing their religions, they’re changing them often. Wow, for some reason, I’ve never felt more like a statistic. I am one of those Americans who has changed religions but I don’t plan on changing it again…ever. First of all, it’s too hard and second of all, I’m too happy (even… Continue reading The Conversion Process