Category Archives: life and some

Taste of Daf: Siyum Brachot and some local scenes

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

With recent world health mayhem, you’d think the streets would be empty, but no. On a crowded city bus, a young Arab mother in traditional clothing with baby in stroller and shopping bags, strikes a conversation with an older religious … Continue reading →

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G-d is in the Details

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

At the end of the day, it’s all about the details. But, look at the big picture! I do, and when I look at it really, really closely, I see that it’s made of lots and lots of tiny little … Continue reading →

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I’ll ask her in the morning…

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

On the day of her funeral, the sun was shining and the sky was a clear, blue. Funerals’ weather somehow is always meaningful, whether “the sky is crying” or not. For my mom’s, it was a glorious spring day, one … 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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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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Not Buying Skirts for my Boys!

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignettes: New sounds have entered my East Coast experience, beyond the usual bells and Christmas songs of this season (which are almost completely absent from Riverdale): The heater pipes in the walls with their’ ticks, clicks, knocks and sudden bangs, … Continue reading →

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CA Girl in NY, Week 4: Vignettes from Yeshiva Life before Rosh Hashana

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Vignette When I packed my “shmates” – assorted loosely fitting clothes, more than a few acquired as treasures in second hand and thrift stores – many ended up in the giveaway bag because “that’s not how people dress in NY”. … Continue reading →

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California Girl in NY – Week 2: Vignettes and Torah

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Choices I’ve never had to make: When I walk out of the Yeshiva this afternoon, the morning clear, beautiful, blue sky gives way to glorious thick, dark, grey clouds. Within minutes, torrents gush down the streets. I’m drenched and hurry … Continue reading →

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Don’t do nothing – Parashat Shoftim

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

For now, I am fortunate to walk to school in the mornings. The weather is actually very much a reminder of my Haifa childhood. There are magnificent, tall maple and other so green trees that enjoy and benefit from the … Continue reading →

Posted in life and some, shabbat shalom, פרשת השבוע לחילוני האדוק | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

5 decades later – starting again…

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Twenty years ago, while working on my masters in Jewish Studies, I had the great honor to learn in person with Dr. Rebetzin Naomi Cohen, wife of then Chief Rabbi of Haifa, Eliyahu Yosef Sh’ar Yashuv Cohen. I still remember … Continue reading →

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