What makes it exceptional for me to learn Daf Yomi? It may not be. It likely isn’t. However, this is what I know - the groups that learn Daf Yomi together are aimed at men. They are early in the morning so men can go before work. It’s a group of men, for men. That has never been a hurdle for me before. I have never been intimidated by study with men, I spent a year wearing a kippah and talit katan every day because it felt like it was an integral part of my Jewish observance. So why was this learning inaccessible?
Read moreHow To Find A Haggadah In Denver
When you start planning your seder a few things cross your mind… who should I invite? Where will I get all the chairs?! Jarred gefilte fish or fresh?
But if you don’t host seder regularly, you may have an additional concern – what haggadah do I use and where can I find it? If you are reading this well in advance, you still have time to order some online but if you need to find a haggadah in Denver, we have you covered.
Read moreHow To Engage Small Kids In Shabbat During Daylight Savings Time
As a mom of small kids, who also keeps Shabbat, I find myself struggling every year around this time. They’ve spent the winter being engaged in our Shabbat practice. We light candles, say the blessing over the wine and challah. It’s a big ritual and one that we repeat on Saturday night for Havdallah. But with Daylight Savings Time, I find myself struggling to engage the kids in Shabbat and Havdallah since they go to bed early. This year, for the first time, my son (3.5) is finally communicating to me that “the sun is out mama! It’s not bedtime” and that goes for Shabbat as well.
Read moreWhat To Do On Purim?
Purim is an amazing and fun and sometimes forgotten holiday. Purim is of the holidays that was added AFTER the Torah was written so while you won’t see it mentioned in the actual Torah, it has it’s own scroll dedicated to the holiday. That scroll is called Megillat Esther (the scroll of Esther). (Another fun note – Megillat Esther is the only book of the Tanach that doesn’t mention G-d once! Here’s some fun reading on that topic.)
Read moreApps To Make Parenting Easier
Congratulations! You’ve just been through hours of labor, you’re exhausted, you’re hungry and here’s your beautiful, screaming bundle of joy. One of the first things the nurses tell you to do once you have delivered your baby is to keep track of every time they poop and pee and eat. At my hospital, they gave me a little notepad inside the hospital handout to track it on. Now, initially it’s annoying but when they come around and ask when the last time was the baby pooped, that written log is awful helpful.
Read moreYummy Salmon Chowder
I found this Salmon Chowder recipe online at Woman's Day and made it last night for the family. My husband was over the moon about it! He's requested that it hit our regular rotation and I think he went back for thirds. At different points in our lives, we each did not keep strict kashrut and both quite enjoyed clam chowder. This recaptures a bit of that yummy decadent Northeast flavor. The recipe I used felt a bit unfinished so here is my updated version.
Read moreVisiting Christmas
As a child, we rarely lived in an area with a large Jewish population. While I was born in NYC, we moved around from the time I was about seven for my father’s job. The first response I always get to that statement is the question, “Oh was he military?” and I always say, “sort of, he’s a rabbi.”
Read moreAn Imperfect Mom Confessional
I burned the frozen vegetables because my dog was insanely barking and I had to put her in her crate upstairs and then my toddler was crying and asking me to read a book and I’m worried about my husband who contracted Hand Foot and Mouth and it’s two days before we are flying out on a business trip and I’m 7 months pregnant and I’m tired and I’m worried about the taxes and paperwork I have to file for our new business…
Read moreStorkSak Noa Diaper Bag | Review
I recently got my hands on the StorkSak Noa diaper bag. I was really excited about this because the diaper bag I received at my baby shower for David, while adorable, was never quite functional enough. It was big and bulky and hard to carry.
Read moreOh Baby(iators)
We were first introduced to the world of Babiators at a maternity leave lunch date. Several of us had babies at the same time and were on maternity leave together. We sat outside and my little guy got the bad spot, right in the sun. So the ladies collected supplies for us. A frilly, girly bonnet, a muslin to drape and bust up the sun, and a pair of Babiators.
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