Author Archives: Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Jacob (and the) Rocks

Posted on November 24, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Looking for a penny in the light (published in the Times of Israel blog) Last Saturday night, I was invited to a sacred Rosh Hodesh Kislev women gathering. I say “sacred” in all earnestness, not because that’s how anyone of … Continue reading →

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Going to inquire of G-d

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

We seem to be the people of the 2nd. First’s – are just not our thing. Take creation for example: the first story was just perfect. Everything was in the right place: the water that hung above, did just that, … Continue reading →

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The Romantic Torah

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignette: Time travelling in NYC: You leave one side of the city and the GPS shows an hour to your destination. You drive for 20 minutes, check again, and lo and behold, you now have 50 minutes left. You drive … Continue reading →

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Abraham, Tzedaka & Mishpat

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignette: Winter must be coming, which means an invisible hand turned on the central heating system in the building. It’s finally time to get a thin summer dress, and that box to wipe the sweat off my face. Some Torah … Continue reading →

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Lech Lecha – Peace be the Journey

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignette: Turns out, in Brooklyn, there are no yard-sales (no yards…) and no garage sales (for same reason) but! instead, there are “stoop sales” – a yard-sale on the brownstone’s steps… This Shabbat is “Shabbat Project”: “The idea is simple … Continue reading →

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Tuesday morning daf yomi – Sanhedrin 100

Posted on October 24, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Join me for one daf (Talmud page) a week. Today, we’re at Sanhedrin 100, asking what is a “heretic” (apikoros), how respectful one has to be of a Torah scholar, and what does it mean when the Talmud says, not … Continue reading →

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Noah, Noah

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignette: “Excuse me, where can I find car oil”? “Hahaha”, laughs the cashier at the big, well-stocked, grocery store, “that will be the day!” After much thought (‘where on earth is there a place that sells such obscure stuff?’) she … Continue reading →

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Who’s simcha is it?

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignette: I’m becoming a New Yorker… The recent realization follows needing to move my car due to “Street Cleaning”. The “whole world” double-parks from here until forever, waiting for this “seige” to be over. Should I go on a day … Continue reading →

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Sukkot – סוכתי הסוכה

Posted on October 4, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

My Sukkot starts on the last chapter of the book of Jonah, the unnecessary chapter of the book, after Jonah “did his job”, the people did “their repentance”, and everybody lives happily ever after. Why doesn’t G-d just leave the … Continue reading →

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This Yom Kippur, what for ? היום כיפ’ר הזה, על שום מה

Posted on September 29, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Much (and more) has been writing about Yom Kippur, this “day of Attornment” in an effort to figure out, explain, interpret, rationalize… words and words (and more… beautiful commentary and many wise insights, some of which I plan to use … Continue reading →

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