Faith-Culture

A short Shami Arabic reflection on the Jewish month of Sivan, the holiday of Shavuot, and a teaching from the Chida.

Attending a funeral for a dear friend of the family.

Notes from a sixteenth-anniversary trip to Djerba: warm encounters, everyday religious life, practicing Arabic in passing conversations, and impressions gathered without rushing or explanation.

Jewish fast day arrives, but a stomach bug keeps me sprinting to the bathroom instead of fasting.

Made it to shul on time after being sick, then crashed in a 2 pm nap—need a better rhythm.

Closing out Zot Hanukkah with prayers for healing at Rachel’s Tomb.

Interviewed in Tel Aviv and heading home to light the first Hanukkah candle tonight.

Last night we celebrated the accomplishment of finishing Seder Moed

Pictures from our visit to the El Ghriba synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia.

Holidays feel stressful, and the anxiety spills over to family.