(Russian girls celebrating a holiday I don’t know about) I recently saw an email with the subject line, The Best Purim Kitsch You Can Buy on the Internet. I almost deleted it since all I need are more tchotchkes. Then I stopped. Purim is not one of those untouchable holy holidays that no one wants…
Read More »
(Family bat mitzvah) A letter to my Mixed and Matched Column in the J-Weekly Dear Dawn: How do I encourage a do-nothing tween to want a bat mitzvah? At 11, my daughter doesn’t want to do anything except watch YouTube all day. Complains about going to Sunday school but has fun once there. I suspect as…
Read More »
Are you familiar with the Magnes Museum in Berkeley? It is a small treasure of a museum on the UC Berkeley campus. The curator is Professor Francesco Spagnolo, a brilliant, funny Italian Jew with whom I have worked before. He is a delight. Prof. Spagnolo will be one of the speakers at an evening event…
Read More »
A mohel performs a circumcision during a bris (or brit milah) ceremony. (Cheskel Dovid/Wikimedia CC BY 3.0) Circumcision still a volatile topic I received the following letter sent to my Mixed and Matched column at the J-weekly. Dear Dawn: I came across your response to a Jewish mother who was upset that her daughter didn’t want to circumcise…
Read More »
What is Judaism’s Belief about the Afterlife? G-d Talk with Rabbis from Across the Jewish Denominations One of the most frequently asked questions of Rabbis is “What is Judaism’s Belief about the Afterlife?” As with most Jewish beliefs, this one has many answers. Plan to attend this program and hear the panelists talk about what…
Read More »
(Image from Song of Names) The East Bay International Jewish Film Festival will run from Feb. 26 to March 15. The films are divided into 8 categories (sections) so that you can jump to Historical Dramas, Family Friendly, Mysteries, Documentaries, etc. There are some hard to find, FABULOUS films! A few of my favorites are: The…
Read More »Our weekly email goes out to hundreds of interfaith couples & families in the Bay Area. Topics cover the many questions and mysteries that interfaith couples want answered.