Reflecting on hope, miracles, and transcendent moments—amid Hanukkah, Rosh Chodesh Tevet, and recent acts of antisemitic violence—this week’s reflection invites us to kindle light, choose courage, and illuminate a path forward.
Journaling
Illuminated Dreams
Joseph’s dreams carried him through betrayal, loss, and uncertainty. As we approach Hanukkah, this reflection on Parashat Vayeishev explores the power of dreams, the courage to kindle light in dark times, and our invitation to be a source of hope for others.
Transcendent Grace
You Are Not Alone: Reflections on Parashat Vayeishlach and the Concept of Grace Parashat Vayishlach • Genesis 32:4–36:43 “He called the place Beth-el, for there, God had been revealed.”— Genesis 35:7 In this week’s parasha Jacob returns to Beth-el — where he pauses to build an altar and name the place where God once appeared to […]
Surely God Is in This Place: Sacred Listening
In Parashat Vayeitzei, Jacob awakens from his dream and discovers that holiness has been with him all along. This week’s reflection explores the spiritual discipline of sacred listening and honors the “unseen angels” whose compassion, presence, and kindness illuminate our lives. Journaling questions and a weekly practice invite deeper awareness and connection.
Kindling Hope:
Parashat Toldot invites us to explore the threads of legacy, blessing, and becoming. This week, as I illuminated Genesis 26:4, I found myself reflecting on the promise of light woven through our lineage—a reminder that even in complicated stories, hope continues to shimmer across generations. Toldot encourages us to cultivate consciousness: to notice the guidance we receive, the patterns we carry, and the choices that help us step more fully into who we are becoming.
As we enter the month of Kislev and approach Thanksgiving, we are invited into a season of light, gratitude, and possibility. This week’s prayers, blessings, journaling prompts, and reflections offer an opportunity to pause, connect, and kindle hope—within ourselves and with those we love.
Lech Lecha — Trusting the Journey
“Lech Lecha — Go forth to the land that I will show you.”
This week’s Torah portion invites us to trust the journey, even when the destination is unknown. In this week’s reflection, I share my illustration of Genesis 12:1, the prayer Not Knowing from my soon-to-be-released book Illuminated Journey, and a new illustrated prayer, Journey.
I also share information and resources about BRCA awareness in the Jewish community — and ask for prayers for my daughter, Samantha Trattner (Shira Natanya bat Yocheved), who is courageously navigating her own unexpected journey.