Category Archives: Uncategorized

Start Learning Here?

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Imagine: you are about the start teaching Torah in kindergarten, and you have to pick where to start them. Which story would it be? Abraham’s journey, Rachel at the well, Joseph’s coat, Miriam watching Moses gloating in the basket, perhaps … Continue reading →

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Getting Together

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

What is the goal of a journey? To see places, to acquire new experiences? If we look at the Book of Exodus in its totality, maybe it’s all about connecting. We started with shmot, “names”, a list of separated individuals, … Continue reading →

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More Than Israel Kept Shabbat…

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

After spending long chapters in measuring beams, building tables, preparing coatings of gold, fashioning a lamp and other details such as tying loops around the curtains, making olive oil and sewing fancy clothing for the Priest, the Torah portion os … Continue reading →

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Tetzave 2015

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

It is the closing ceremony / party of my daughter’s Garin Tzabar. Garin Tzabar – literally translated as “cactus seed” – is a platform created by the Israeli Scouts, Jewish Agency and others, to accommodate young Jews from around the … Continue reading →

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Traveling Light, Going Up

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

We often refer to Abraham as the “first monotheist”, erroneously, I might add. First, we have no such word in Hebrew – מאמין באל אחד so that should make us already suspicious as to its origin, and second, we might … Continue reading →

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Joseph, write home!

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

The meet up between Judah and Joseph can be reminiscent of other brotherly meetings: Isaac and Yishma’el come to bury Abraham; Jacob and Esau meet on the road after twenty years apart. But in all other cases, the brother meet … Continue reading →

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ReJewvenate @ Pardes

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Originally posted on Torah & more… תורה ועוד:
“ReJewvenate @ Pardes” is an opportunity for someone in the 40 plus age group who has not experienced immersive Jewish learning, to receive a grant from reJewvenate for Pardes’ three weeks summer program. With…

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Light One Candle: On Joseph and Hanukkah

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

It might be no wonder that when Jacob meets Pharaoh in 2 Torah portions, Jacob will tell him: “… few and unhappy have been the years of my life…” (Genesis 47:8-9). The reading this week begins with the words Vayeshev, … Continue reading →

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Opposites Attract – or complementary opposites attract: An Intro to Isaac & Rebecca

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Sometimes the Torah is so stingy with words, and sometimes it goes on and on… We know close to nothing about Abraham’s first 75 years, but the longest chapter in the Torah is dedicated to one afternoon in the life … Continue reading →

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Back to the Beginning

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

This evening is shmini atzeret. What is Shmini Atzeret? Eh… just come over. There will be wine and drinks and food, although nothing uniquely dedicated to this day, no matza, no apples in honey, no blintzes or latkes; there is … Continue reading →

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