Author Archives: Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

The morning after (Tish’a Be’av)

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignette: Hot, sticky summer night, and suddenly – sparks hopping around in the grass and bushes – fireflies! Until now, fireflies appeared only in my kids’ children’s books. Now they are here, dancing. Them and the beautiful, red cardinal, to … Continue reading →

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Shabbat Chazon: Intro to Moses’ Speech and more

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignette: Riding the bus through the Bronx on a cloudy errands’ day, I find myself instinctively getting up when an “older” person gets on, offering them my seat. The person I just got up for, might be around whatever age … Continue reading →

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To journey forward is to stop and go

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

2,878 miles (4,632 km!); 27 happy teens; 2 counselors; 1 driver; about 10 different over-night sites and possibly 60-80 bathrooms; 4 National Parks; 2 dams; 4 lakes; lots of trees and even more – squirrels; 1 museum; 1 Golden Gate … Continue reading →

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More Stories from the Desert (Parashat Balak)

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

After some days in the desert, we arrive in the City of the Angles. I know that some of my ‘NorCal’ friends will cringe, but I like LA a lot, as do the other 13 million some who live around … Continue reading →

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Water in the desert, then and now

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Traveling with a group of teens through the (Arizona) desert. We just left our first attractions at the Salt River (hey guys, bathrooms anyone before we go?) and stopped at a gas station to get refreshments (bathrooms anyone?) and now … Continue reading →

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The Salt Covenant, Now & Forever

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

A famous folktale of unclear origin tells about a king who asked his three daughters to describe how much they each loved him. The oldest said, like gold (or bread, or the heavens and earth and the whole world); the … Continue reading →

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Spying in the Land of Israel

Posted on June 16, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

The Torah portions in the middle of the Book of Numbers are, for me, possibly the greatest gift the Torah has given us. Those are the portions of the biggest mess-ups of our People. And yet, without them, what would … Continue reading →

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shabbat shalom: going up, with a friend

Posted on June 8, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

יא  וַיְהִי בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית, בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי–בְּעֶשְׂרִים בַּחֹדֶשׁ; נַעֲלָה, הֶעָנָן, מֵעַל, מִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדֻת. 11 And it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from … Continue reading →

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(Some) counting is a sign of love

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

This week we’re starting the Book of Numbers. As is obvious from its (English) name, we will hear a lot of numbers. Each tribe will be counted. And counted again. Why? Who cares if the tribe of Judah had 74,600 … Continue reading →

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Still crazy after all these years…

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

We’re six years old and the school year is almost over. 1st grade: a red backpack on my back, a lunch pack hanging from my neck. A tight pin in my hair. T-shirt. Maybe shorts, or a skirt. “Comfortable” shoes. … Continue reading →

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