For my first year of cantorial school in 2011-2012, I lived an entire calendar year in Israel. It was nothing short of magical—hearing and speaking Hebrew every day, watching snow fall on the Jerusalem stone, tasting each delicious pastry, smelling every spice, and—quite poignantly—experiencing the sacred rhythm of each Jewish holiday in the Holy Land. I observed the streets growing quiet and white on Yom Kippur, gazed at the sparkling lights illuminating the city in December, and looked forward to the feelings of peace and holiness that accompanied Shabbat singing and meals with my new (now-forever) friends every single week. The year sped by too quickly. I remember celebrating Hanukkah, and then—in the blink of an eye—it was time for Purim, then Passover, and then I was packing up my belongings to return stateside. My classmates and I actually referred to springtime as Purim, Pesach, and Packing—that buzzing season after winter [...]

Today, the first day of March, we mark the beginning of Women’s History Month. This official recognition of women in our nation began 41 years ago, when Congress passed the first in a series of resolutions that led to the designation of the month of March as a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements women have made to the United States. Since 1995, presidents have issued annual proclamations declaring March as the month to recognize the specific accomplishments made by women over the course of American history in all varieties of fields, despite facing many challenges and obstacles. In an ideal world, we would take time every day to mark the accomplishments of the artists, scientists, and leaders of every gender, but I greatly appreciate these four weeks being specifically set aside to acknowledge and commend the special contributions of the female pioneers in every discipline. As a cantor, I am grateful [...]

Last week, many of you joined us for our Wise Women Book Club and conversation with Helene Meyers, author of “Movie-Made Jews: An American Tradition.” In her book and in our conversation, Meyers moved beyond expressions of Jewish identity in conventionally-famous Jewish films like “Yentl” and “The Chosen.” She expanded her analysis to include dozens of other feature films, documentaries, and shows, exploring a wider variety of themes and questions. I left the class wholly inspired by the incredibly broad impact of Jews in the cinematic arts, which we might even sometimes take for granted as 21st century Jews living in Los Angeles. The best Jewish-made films open up an opportunity for what my Hebrew Union College professor, Dr. Wendy Zierler, calls “reverse midrash.” Traditional (and the best) midrash starts with a Torah text, then leads into a moving story that helps us understand and apply that sacred text to the world, and [...]