In between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we Jews are prodded to remember, reflect and return. This past year, and honestly the year prior as well, have been well… Hell. I know, I know, Jews don’t believe in a place commonly known as “Hell”. It is just a bit different for us. For the past year my Hell has been right here on this earth, right here in my life, right hear in my head and right here in my heart. My Hell is a very personal solo...

My sister, Kelly, reminded me through her own tears that today, on Mother’s Day, it will be the first time since our children were born that we wouldn’t be receiving our yearly delivery of roses from our dad. You see every year Mother’s day was a big deal in our home, even growing up, we went to dinner or brunch or something with all of us kids and often my grandparents as well. I remember many brunches at The Velvet Turtle or some Mexican...

Our family’s Exodus story began with a plague of sorts. Michael and I had been looking forward to our trip back east with much anticipation. We both had been working very hard and couldn’t wait to get away with our kids and visit his family on the East coast. Leading up to our trip I had been working long days at a job that I love but with the death of my dad just a month earlier the idea of being away on a relaxing trip was honestly all I...

It’s Passover and as Michael, the kids and I prepare for a leaven-less week, I am taking a moment out to think about what this holiday and this season mean. Whether you celebrate Passover or Easter…or Eastover… or are simply taking time out to notice it’s spring, it’s a time of rebirth and renewal and, of course, reflection.  So, I am remembering a story, a call for introspection, I once heard about Passover and the reason we eat matzah. ...

My kid was caught in the middle of the Christmukkah debate — only the debate was within himself. We were driving down the road in my black minivan. My son was quietly sitting, staring out the window. Through my rearview mirror, I saw him shut his eyes and say it! It was said in the most innocent way that only a child could say it, but they were simply not the words I wanted to hear. He said, “Dear God: Can I please have a Christmas...

Back when I decided to convert to Judaism, I knew that the transition would be difficult for my family. But I had no idea that the real war would begin over holiday gifts. As I recall, the wrapping-paper war began in the early-morning hours. I had just gotten out of the shower and poured my second cup of coffee when my phone rang. Before I even picked up the receiver, I knew it was my mom (probably on her second cup of coffee, too). She most...