Challahbackgirl

LATEST ARTICLES ( 58 )

• Repost: Modeh Ani

  I must confess, converting to Judaism in the purely religious sense has been an absolute breeze compared to becoming Jewish culturally. Apparently, you can... Read more

  Posted on 25 August 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Pesach Playlist

  Because any good journey needs a soundtrack. Put it on shuffle and shake off your shackles.Freedom! '90, George MichaelNow We Are Free, Jenny Jordan FrogleyTo... Read more

  Posted on 17 April 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Dayenu

  Thy Juliet is alive,For whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead;There art thou happy; Tybalt would kill thee,But thou slew'st Tybalt; there are thou happy... Read more

  Posted on 11 April 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• On the Charedi Draft

  I have never wished I'd found Judaism earlier for reasons of dating or marriage. But one occasion did make me regret converting at the ripe old age of 32: When... Read more

  Posted on 27 March 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• On Banning Bossy

  

  It was my sister who first brought the "Ban Bossy" campaign to my attention, when we were discussing my niece and her, uh, leadership tendencies, if a... Read more

  Posted on 17 March 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Step Up Your Mishloach Manot Game

  

  Let's be honest: A person's tastebuds and intestines can only take so much apricot. Aish has some great recipes for unconventional hamantaschen, including a... Read more

  Posted on 10 March 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• G-d and Gravity

  

  I finally got around to watching Gravity last week, the last one on my list before the Oscars. I knew I was in for a stressful two hours, but I also warily... Read more

  Posted on 04 March 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• A Small Announcement

  My collection of essays, 33 previously seen on this blog and 3 brand new ones, is now available in paperback and for Kindle. I've written about eschewing labels... Read more

  Posted on 26 February 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Favorite Things About Being a Jew

  In no particular order:-Knowing that miracles happen-Shabbos naps-Israel-The comfort food-The parsha each week and all the layers of meaning-Living life with... Read more

  Posted on 25 February 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Eat, Pray, Love: Birthday Edition

  It's my birthday! This morning, I woke up to the gift of...snow. Oh Hashem, you really shouldn't have. But no matter, I have a day full of massage, art, and... Read more

  Posted on 21 February 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Water and Peace

  This piece is great for two reasons. First, a pro-Israel op-ed in the Times? 'Nuff said. And for those who are familiar with the belief that water in Israel is ... Read more

  Posted on 17 February 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Let's Talk About Love

  I've always liked Natalie Portman. I thought Black Swan was brilliant, especially her performance. She once played one of my favorite historical figures. Read more

  Posted on 16 February 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Eat, Pray, Love

  is a new post I'll be doing every Friday for a little last-minute inspiration and information before Shabbat kicks off. Eat will cover—wait for it—food, either ... Read more

  Posted on 14 February 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Dear Feminist Rabbis

  I think I'm pretty qualified to write this. One, I'm a woman. By the way, you will never, ever know what it is like to be a woman, no matter how many women... Read more

  Posted on 02 February 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Why I Won't Wear Tefillin

  It is always with amusement that I listen to someone describe the fashion industry as "frivolous." There is a degree of frivolity, to be sure, as with most... Read more

  Posted on 27 January 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• #ootd

  

  All that glitters is not gold. Sometimes it's silver.H MNordstrom Read more

  Posted on 23 January 2014 FASHION, SELF EXPRESSION

• The Map

  Once upon a time, there was a Map. It was given long ago to a group of people who promised to guard it and to follow it, and it was copied meticulously many... Read more

  Posted on 22 January 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Once, Twice, Three Times a LadyMama

  Why did I ever think I could give up blogging? Especially when it means I have the honor of another (my third!) guest post on LadyMama. My friend Mimi makes... Read more

  Posted on 16 January 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Say It Ain't So!

  

  Last week, a headline caught my eye: "Meryl Streep calls Walt Disney Anti-Semitic."WHAT.Listen, I can live without Wagner; I've always been partial to Mozart... Read more

  Posted on 14 January 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY

• Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project

  Last year I wrote a piece for JUF on coming to terms with the Holocaust as a convert. It's a subject I have studied for over 20 years, but it became much more... Read more

  Posted on 07 January 2014 SELF EXPRESSION, SPIRITUALITY