In the initial shock of the aftermath of the October 7 massacres in Israel, and every day since people say to me: "I have no words." Whether they are speaking about the hostages, the slaughters, or the photos of young soldiers dying in Israel, or the children and innocents in Gaza who sit among the ruins - we have entered a time of profound sadness. For Continue Reading
When Words Seem to Fail: Draft a Poem
Early Tuesday morning, a dear member of our Hineni community who lives in Chicago, and is a wonderful poet, alerted me to the unfolding tragedy in Highland Park, Illinois. Another mass shooting, this time at a Fourth of July parade that I remember attending growing up on the North Shore of Chicago. I did what so many of you did as well - I turned on the news Continue Reading
Poetry for Healing & Hope: Come Join Us
I bought my first book of poetry when I was in college. I was searching for my place in the universe and in a threshold moment of becoming. Poetry became important in my own healing process, as I figured out what I needed to leave behind and what I would take with me into adulthood. Today, I am even more drawn to poetry. The more that I know, the more I Continue Reading
What Does Healing Look Like & Refugee Shabbat
I want to talk to you about healing. It was exactly a year ago this week when many of us began to register that the pandemic was going to upend our lives. In March of 2020, I agonized over getting on a plane to officiate a long-planned wedding in Chicago (the daughter of one of my dearest childhood friends) because of the potential danger to my Continue Reading
Healing: Seeking Wholeness For Soul & Body *Begins This Week!
It has been a year since we have been on lockdown and our lives disrupted. My husband and I received our second covid vaccine late last week, and in addition to the huge hope it instilled in me, it also allowed me to feel the weight of the last year. It is funny how that works. Sometimes, when there is a light at the end of the tunnel, you can unclench your Continue Reading