Author Archives: Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Esther’s Fast Day at my chaplaincy. Esther here has been sick for a while and not getting better. When I visit her on Monday, she tells me she’s done; she’s been fighting all her life and can’t do it no … Continue reading →

When my kids were younger, we used to read the story about the six blind men and the elephant, all standing around the huge animal in an effort to “see” it, each arguing that the part of elephant they are … Continue reading →

רק בשבוע שעבר, עמדנו לרגלי הר סיני לכבוד מתן תורה, עדים למופע אור-קולי פנטסטי שעד היום קשה להסביר, והנה, מגיעה פרשת השבוע הזה, פרשת משפטים, עם כל מיני פרטים קטנטנים ואתגריים, כמו מה לעשות עם שור שנגח, מישהו שנפל לתוך … Continue reading →

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 →