Welcome to Miriam’s House: Not Your Children’s Judaism
I am about to become an empty nester. Years ago, when the kids first started going to camp, my husband and I used to call ourselves “ENITs,” Empty Nesters in Training.
Have I Failed as a Jewish Mother?
Judaism was so unfamiliar to my son that he was wary of my Hanukkah gift. I felt as though, at such a young age, he was choosing to shun my religion, to identify with Christianity. Of course, if he chooses to identify with either religion later in life, that decision will be his own – but for now, I need to at least give Judaism a fighting chance.
Who Should Teach About Hanukkah and What Should They Be Teaching?
Now that my daughter is in preschool, I've come to realize that hearing about cultural and religious practices directly from the practitioners only emphasizes our otherness.
How You Can Help Spread Light This Hanukkah
Hanukkah offers echoes from our tradition to be “a light among the nations,” suggesting that we, like the holiday’s candles, can bring warmth and vision to the world.
How My Menorah Became a Cherished Symbol of Life
We always lit two menorahs at Hanukkah: One used candles; the other was electric, with bright orange bulbs. That second one became a precious symbol of life and light.
Shine a Light: Advancing Progressive Values in Israel This Hanukkah
Although Jews have had access to the Western Wall since 1967, only some Jews feel ownership over this important site.
Reclaiming the Public Square with Hanukkah Lights
According to Rashi, we light Hanukkah candles to “publicize the miracle.” What exactly is the miracle we’re publicizing – and what’s the best way for us to do so today?
Hanukkah Reconsidered: A Split in the Jewish Soul
I grew up loving this holiday – until I learned the dark side and felt like a kid discovering that there’s no Santa Claus. It turns out Hanukkah is, in part, a tale of Jew vs. Jew.
In Search of the Perfect Donut: My Hanukkah Tradition in Jerusalem
In Jerusalem, Hanukkah is all about food. The famous Israeli jelly donuts appear in shops about a month before the holiday screaming, “Buy me! Eat me! Savor me!”
A Song of Light and Fire: Hillel and Shammai, Hanukkah, and Us
This year, the heated argument between the disciples of Hillel and the followers of Shammai over how to light the Hanukkah menorah speaks to me.