Archive for April 2012
Israel Independence Day
Posted by: erika on: April 26, 2012
- In: Israel | Israel/Palestine
- 3 Comments
My Facebook status today: When I spent time in Israel in November I struggled-a lot. Our trip leader said something that still resonates with me. I repeat it, in various forms, constantly in my personal life and in my online life. He said, “The opposite of a profound truth can be another profound truth.” I’m [...]
It’s Time to Buckle Down
Posted by: erika on: April 25, 2012
For the past few months I’ve been floating between one particular synagogue. I say floating because I actually haven’t been to service in well-over a month. Mainly because of the deep depression I was in (unemployed for 6mos), partially because it’s still a schlep from my house (why are there zero liberal synagogues in BedStuy?), [...]
Don’t be So Sensitive
Posted by: erika on: April 23, 2012
I love my JOC community. I’m always learning, always experiencing and always appreciative of the people and families who have come before me. Being a Jew of Color isn’t always easy. In fact it can be extremely difficult-especially if you’re in a small community. Finding your footing as a new Jew is hard, but when [...]
Scraggly beards and stubbly legs
Posted by: erika on: April 18, 2012
We’re in the midst of counting the Omer. I say midst, when in fact we’re only at the beginning. Last year the Omer was lost on me and this year I’m working on incorporating bits and pieces as best as I can. I found a blog that has daily reflections during the Omer from the [...]
What To Expect at the Mikvah
Posted by: erika on: April 15, 2012
One of my friends has a mikveh date scheduled for late April/early May. She asked me few questions and expressed some hair concerns so I thought I’d write another “What To Expect” post. ~One of the most shocking parts of the Deborah Feldman book wasn’t the scandalous rejection of her hasidic roots, it was [...]
Can Modesty be Stylish, too?
Posted by: erika on: April 10, 2012
Many thanks to the women who have answered my personal modesty questions. I’m still working on the piece that I’m hoping to pitch for The Sisterhood. Meanwhile, my good friend Chanel Dubofsky interviewed my favorite modest fashion blogger, Nina of All Tumble Down, for the Jewish Women’s Archives. Check it out. When not memorizing Latin [...]
Seder Success!
Posted by: erika on: April 8, 2012
Our last guests left last night (this morning) at around 3AM. It was a very successful Seder. Twenty friends and new friends were around my tisch-Jews, non-Jews, Atheists, Agnostics, and everyone in between. We had a multitude of ethnicities around the table and heard the four questions in five different languages. There were tears of [...]
Holy Pesach Planning, Batman!
Posted by: erika on: April 4, 2012
…and general “stuff” Baruch Hashem, I have a wonderful, full-time job at an amazing Jewish non-profit organization. This job comes with all of the perks that I’ve been missing since being unemployed-dental, medical and vision plans, regular and consistent paycheck, and most of all security. I’m incredibly blessed and while the past few months have [...]
Chametz Cleaning, Shopping in Borough Park
Posted by: erika on: April 1, 2012
Yesterday Mir and I were ready. We woke up early and had brunch at breakfast time at a cute place around the corner from my house before heading out to Target for some last-minute chametz cleaning supplies. We got back to my house and put together our new vacuum cleaner to start cleaning listening and [...]
My New Obsession
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