Peeling a Pomegranate

Tammuz: Taking the Reins

(excerpt from Rosh Chodesh Guide) Tammuz begins at Sundown on June 22, 2009 and Ends at Sundown on July 21, 2009 Tammuz is the first month of summer, beginning just after the Summer Solstice. It is the month after Shavuot - the revelation. After the Exodus and the long trek through the ...

Stones not Flowers, RIP Stephen Tyrone Johns

Someone was shot and killed in Washington, DC today. That's not an uncommon headline. People die senseless deaths everyday in Washington, and around the world. THIS WAS DIFFERENT. This man was a guardian. This man was a guardian of a sacred shine. This man was a guardian of a sacred shine that ...

Is Your Kavanah Killing You?

Mine was. I realized this after a lovely meltdown on Friday night. I often joke with my friends about my adventures as a corporate priestess. But in many ways I'm serious. I try to put all my priestessing skills to work at work. I do it to make the most ...

Sivan: Revelations in Relationships

(excerpt from the Sivan 5769 Rosh Chodesh Guide) It seems like the tarot card for the month of Sivan ( סִיוָ) should be the Tower because life is changed forever with the covenant at Sinai, but it's not. The card of the month is the Lovers, but when you think about ...

Healing Herbs in Judaism

While I was putting together the Rosh Chodesh Guide for Iyyar, I found myself wandering off into the world of healing herbs. The Netivot for the month is the Mayaledet (midwife) and the name of the month is said to be an acronym for Ani Adonai Rofecha, “I ...

Thoughts on Tazria-Metzora 5769

Tazria-Metzora (Leviticus 12:1-15:33) This is such a challenging and strange portion. Most women recoil at the idea of being "impure" because they gave birth. The entire passage deals with what is and isn't "tamei" and how to deal with a variety of afflictions called "tzaraat." One of the first things I ...

Iyyar: Healing and Growth

(expert from Iyyar Rosh Chodesh Guide) Iyyar begins at Sundown on Friday, April 24, 2009. Iyyar (אִייָר), according to tradition, is an acronym for Ani Adonai Rofecha, "I am G-d your Healer" (Exodus 15:26). According to Inner.org, "Isaachar is the scholarly tribe [associated with Iyyar]. Iyyar is the month of introspection ...

Why “Peeling a Pomegranate”

I get this question a lot and have never answered it in writing before. I wrote this essay as the afterwards for the 5th Anniversary edition of the Peeling a Pomegranate Haggadah, but I want to share it with anyone who reads this site too. There is no direct correlation between ...

Passover 5769 Menu

Passover menu planning is always a fun experience for me. I just love food and creating a menu that enhances the spiritual experience of the seder is a great exercise. I like to try a few new things every year, but also mix in a few fan favorites. This year ...

Emperors and Maidens Make Miracles

Excerpt from Nisan Rosh Chodesh Guide Nisan begins at sundown on March 25th, 2009. The first of Nisan is one of the four Jewish new years. It is really "the" new year, although we generally consider Rosh Hashanah to be the Jewish new year. Rosh Chodesh Nisan is the new year ...