This week, Torah, the Jewish calendar, and personal experience converge in a powerful way. As we read Parashat Tazria-Metzora, enter the healing month of Iyar, and count the Omer through the lens of Tiferet, I reflect on what it means to hold hope and heartbreak at the same time while accompanying both my daughter and my father on their cancer journeys.
Light
In Times of Darkness
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.
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.
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.
In the Liminal Space Between Endings and Beginnings
Each year on Simchat Torah, we complete the reading of Deuteronomy and immediately begin Genesis, stepping into the liminal space between endings and beginnings. This sacred turning invites us to hold joy and sorrow, grief and hope, as we remember, reflect, and renew our connection to the Divine and to one another.
Finding Hope in Uncertain Times:
This week’s blog explores how to hold on to hope during uncertain times, how to let our inner light shine in the darkness, and how to draw strength from community. It includes a prayer for Israel, and my illustration and prayer for this week’s Torah portion, Shelach. I’ve also included an updated version of my 10 Tools for Challenging Times, with journaling prompts to help guide your own spiritual exploration.