With a Strong Hand

“With A Strong Hand” is papercutting artwork by Dan Harris. The title is a clever reference to the line from the Torah describing God’s power on behalf of Israel: “with a strong…

FEATURED POETRY

Benefactor

Maxim D. Shrayer wrote “Benefactor” to memorialize the passing of his former classmate, Ilia Salita, the late CEO of Genesis Philanthropy Group. Ilia and Maxim were the only two Jews admitted to…

A Drought That Never Ends

When it rains, the tulips in my mother’s garden sing like angels heralding  a Saviour: “Hark!” Petals all aflutter like  the six wings of a rejoicing Seraph.  I ignore their deliverance  and…

Red-Headed Jews

Alex wrote this poem for the red-headed members of his Jewish family — yesterday, today, and tomorrow. My Bubbe was a red-headed Jew Like her Bubbe before her And my cousins today Too…

I Am That I Am

The biblical verse referenced is from Shemot (The Book of Exodus). “And God said unto Moses: ‘I AM THAT I AM’; and He said: ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the children of…

FEATURED ART

Hatikvah

Hope is a fundamental part of Jewish peoplehood. Throughout all we have experienced, and all we have suffered, we have never lost our hope for a better future. Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah”,…

FICTION & NONFICTION

Are Tattoos Allowed in Judaism?

Many have written to me regarding whether tattoos are allowed in Judaism. Some, especially young adults, have tattooed the concentration camp numbers of their parents, grandparents or other relatives. My father who…

Coming Back to the Fruit

In June, I pick strawberries, crouching close to the ground, ankles burning as I pull soft berries from the vines. The reddest ones stain my fingers. The sun is hot on the…

Miracle Worker

“For me, Tali. For me. Plea-se…” She’s a guilt specialist, my mother. And guilt is the price I pay for living 3000 miles away from her.  I’m thirty-three years old. By now,…