Author Archives: Michal Kohane

This week’s reading opens with “and Yitro… heard… and came”. Within 5 verses, his name is mentioned 3 times. What did he hear is the subject of many commentaries. Maybe about the war with Amalek; maybe about the Giving of … Continue reading →

On the day of her funeral, the sun was shining, and the sky was a clear, bright blue. Funerals’ weather somehow is always meaningful, whether “the sky is crying” or not. For my mom’s, it was a glorious spring day, … Continue reading →

“Now when Pharaoh let the people go”… so begins this week’s Torah portion, and one wonders: wait, wasn’t it G-d who let the people go? how come, after the Ten Plagues and all the miracles, all of a sudden Pharaoh … Continue reading →

I don’t like to get into politics. My views are mixed. I find myself agreeing with opposite leaders, conflicting ideas. I generally think we have to problem-solve challenges with what’s needed and right for them, right then and there, instead … Continue reading →

My aunt of blessed memory used to collect frogs; I mean, not live ones, although they did have a small pond in their backyard with which I, the “city girl” (if you can call Haifa a “city”) in love with … Continue reading →

P’sachim 2:a – Ohr LeArba’a Asar: What is this light we’re talking about? and what are we talking about? The surprising opening of Tractate P’sachim עברית & English, Dec 2, 2020 – At the Galilee, picking olives, right before Hanukkah … Continue reading →

Usually we read the Torah linearly: one story after another, one Torah portion after another. But, it’s possible to read it as a spiral. This way, we suddenly notice repeated themes that come up in various places, expanding and shedding … Continue reading →

Just before his death, Jacob calls his sons and blesses them. We know how important his father’s blessing was to him when he was young; so much so, that he – and his mom – made sure he gets it … Continue reading →

היום, עשרה בטבת, הראשון מבין ארבעת ימי התענית לזכר חורבן בית המקדש,  מן יום הצום “רגוע”, לא קרה “כלום”, יום קצר, פחות מחצי יום. אני זוכרת שנה אחת שדוקא ביום הזה יצא לנו לטוס מזרחה. זמן הצום, מחושב לפי השמש, התקצר עוד … Continue reading →

לפני שנפרדים מחנוכה, עוד מבט לענין הניסים, בחיינו ובכלל. יש ניסים? אין? אצלי יש כל הזמן: הנה, מצאתי חניה. ירד גשם. או לא. תלוי. הכל בתוך האפשרות. בענין הזה אני עם איינשטיין, או לפחות כפי שהוא מופיע על הספל שלי: … Continue reading →