Category: Everyday Holiness

Judaism is as much a community as a religion, and as such it is deeply rooted in ritual and tradition. This communal nature is cemented by speaking and singing in unison, commingling individual voices within a rhythmic repetition of sh’ma

Rituals have the power to mark or to move us through transitions. Sometimes they take the form of a long, thoughtfully-planned ceremony, such as a wedding, conversion, or baby naming. Other times, they bubble up in a short, spontaneous prayer—such as before a meal or in a moment of pain or celebration. We can look to our biblical texts for examples of both, whether reading about the carefully proscribed Temple rituals or Moses’ impromptu plea for healing on behalf of

An amazing thing happened a few days ago. I was enjoying my lunch in the break room of the retail store I help to manage when one of my colleagues came rushing into the room. “Erika!” he exclaimed, “Come here! Now!” I was annoyed because I was on my break and protested the entire way to the sales floor. “Look,” he said gesturing toward a corner of the floor. I looked and saw an admittedly cute blonde French bulldog, but only responded, “Cute dog.” “No,” he persisted. “Look.” He cocked his head sharply and again looked toward the corner.

My mundane—but predictable—behaviors reflect something essential about all ritual acts. They contain the chaos and shine a light on what is meaningful or poignant within.

One of the fundamental problems we post-Enlightenment, post-Holocaust, American Jews have with prayer is not theological in nature; it is that our attention is elsewhere.

In 1997, I was honored by Kolot, the forerunner of today’s Ritualwell, for my contributions to Jewish art. Up until that point I had not created any specifically Jewish feminist art, though I had designed many a birth announcement and bat mitzvah invitation. 

With this tambourine, we salute Women of the Wall for their struggle for equality and peace at this sacred site.

There are all kinds of ways to make something special, and mark the passage of time. Let us know yours.

Food rituals reflect different facets of Judaism – some tie me closer to God, some to Torah and some to my people.