Do you have days when you have more questions in your life than answers? And then other days – something that was foggy for a long time suddenly becomes clear? No matter how hard the decision is, you realize that it is the one you had to make a while ago, and no amount of…
Category: Jewish Stories
Summer String Beans
Today is three months since we lost my father. How is it that when your parents age, you realize how much more you should have done? I’ve spent two weeks in beautiful Israel doing what I love – studying Torah – thinking how is it that I’ve never come with my dad. I “sent” him…
Back to Katamon. In my Dreams.
Looking at homes. Dreaming of living there. Looking back. Or forward? All I need is my own place. In Katamon. Tu bi Av. A love day? A dream day? A Nachamu? No consolation for me. Not now. Not ever?
We are in it Together. Part IV. Never Want to Leave.
The beauty of this land The magic in its air When will I call you mine? It is intolerable to think that I have to leave so soon. I want to see and do so much more. I miss my mother and daughters immensely, but I’d rather have them here with me than me there….
We are in it Together. Part III. Shabbat at Pardes. In Jerusalem.
So it is a Friday, and that means that my morning is spent at the famous Mahane Yehuda shuk – an open street market, big, loud, great in its smells, crowds, and colors. The amount of people there on a Friday is hard to imagine. Everyone is walking, checking, looking, shouting, buying, selling, and just…
We are in it Together. Part II – Yaffa.
Here, at Pardes I like all of my teachers. Otherwise I wouldn’t have taken their classes, right? But a person, whose class and relationship with I treasure the most is, definitely, Yaffa Epstein. Yaffa is a reason I am coming to Pardes for the second year and plan on coming again, B’H. I am not…
We are in it Together. Pardes in Jerusalem.
For the last few days, I find myself walking the streets of the city I love the most, Jerusalem. Not only I am in the place the very air of which makes me breathe easier even through the heat, but I am blessed to be learning at the institution that brings people together based only…
My American Anniversary
Today is nineteen years since I’ve arrived in this blessed land of the USA. We came here as a family. Since then we lost two most beloved male members of it. And – we gained two most amazing little girls. The circle of life? How did we fare here? Am I grateful, sad, indifferent, cheerful? I…
Something from Nothing или каша из топора
Sometimes you come home after running errands on a hot summer Sunday hungry and tired. This is when you realise that there is pretty much nothing to eat at home. So, what does a creative woman do? She makes a каша из топора. For my non-FSU-origin readers – this is when you really get anything you…
Ice Cream, Anyone? Just sharing a great ice cream story.
This post is here just to share a great story about Jewish ice cream making in America. Guilty, I have to admit that I always thought Haagen-Dazs was German in origin. This was the only kosher ice cream I learned about in Moscow in my early days of Jewish observance. Of course, I love ice cream!…
Making my Dad’s Salad Missing Him Crazy
A couple of days ago I was passing by a Russian store and saw white radishes. I bought one for a salad, not knowing that it would bring me to tears. You see, my dad עליו השלום, loved it. He made it himself for the last 20 years at least. He would be very happy to add…
Jury Duty Day
I have served as a juror once. Quite a while ago. It was a terrible mafia case, and I had to spend a whole week sequestered with other people discussing the murder. I don’t remember the particulars of the organization itself, but now, I have decided to document my experience whatever it will turn out to…
Noshing Across the Nation 