Author Archives: Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Snow Storm, Post Purim & Light through Broken Things

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignettes: I’m walking up and down the streets, hunting for a parking spot. The sun is shining on what would be a gorgeous day if it wasn’t below freezing and windy. Suddenly, I see a gentleman shoveling snow around his … Continue reading →

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Olive Oil for Purim?

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

We head out for a quick tiyul (trip) to the Galil. In Israel, spring is springing all around and the hills, to paraphrase John Muir, are calling. Climbing up less traveled, steep roads to gorgeous views among beautiful wildflowers and shades … Continue reading →

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Building a Mishkan, here and now

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

“It’s especially poignant that we are here today, as this week’s Torah portion talks about the spirit of voluntarism, when it describes our People getting together to build the mishkan”. I’m at an outdoor amphitheater on a breezy Thursday evening … Continue reading →

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Carrying the Torah’s Progressive Spirit into the Future

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Shabbat Shkalim – the Shabbat before Rosh Hodesh Adar, a month which is welcomed with “mishenichnas Adar, marbim besimcha” – משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה – when this month enters, we increase our joy. We read an extra short section about … Continue reading →

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On Seeing Voices

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignettes: The snow storms have covered up cars, sidewalks, lawns, bushes, rocks and garbage bags in strange formations, but here and there, colorful spots appear on the white carpet. A creative art project and / or anthropological survey can be … Continue reading →

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On Trees, Water and Trust

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Due to my Ashkenazi heritage, I have nothing to eat on Pesach and am inundated with all sorts of “chumrot” (strictures), but I am thankful for a beautiful tradition– the celebration of Tu Bishvat. It’s a bit ironic to write … Continue reading →

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These & These are my Brothers

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignettes: Not long ago, I would watch “House of Cards” and wonder if I’m in the middle of a news report. Now I watch the news and can only hope I am in the middle of a crazy Netflix show … Continue reading →

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Savlanut, Savlanut…

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignettes: I’m waiting for that real winter I’ve heard so much about… But this year, it seems that if I want winter, I should move to California. Or Jerusalem. Some days the best thing that happens is losing a wallet, … Continue reading →

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The Power of a Genuine Smile

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Raising children in the 1990’s and early 2000, meant that “Prince of Egypt” played repeatedly on our little then TV-VCR. Aside from its grand success in our home, the film went on to gross over $218 million worldwide in theaters, … Continue reading →

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Closing Beresheet – the Torah portion of Vayechi

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

The editor of the Talmud chose to place Tractate Chulin, literally meaning mundane, ordinary, inside the order of Kodashim, holy matters, which might have been his very (very!) subtle way of telling us how the two remain an inseparable part … Continue reading →

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