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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.

Ritualwell is excited to partner with G-dcast on their new Lifecycle Series: a collection of animated shorts and personal stories about milestones in the Jewish tradition. From giving birth, to naming a child, from designing a 

I pray this way in the mornings now because I want to feel less afraid; less afraid of the places I have been and less afraid of the path ahead.

When I imagine wearing my tallit in Ferguson and afterward, I am imagining how it will help carry with me a sense of security and home—a portable home just like the sukkah. 

I have said the words of the Yom Kippur Vidui many times, always awkwardly aware that most of the list of sins did not apply to me. I never thought I would come to embrace its awkwardness, and I certainly never imagined that it could guide me toward making decisions I was afraid to make. 

Two years ago, at age 93, my father passed away suddenly and peacefully in

Whenever I teach about ritual or work with people to prepare for a life cycle transition, I always stress that what makes a ritual powerful and effective is the preparation and intention with which we approach the event.  While there is a certain “magic” to liminal moments, we cannot simply show up and experience a transformation.  The same is true for how we experience the holidays of the Jewish year. Not only must we appropriately prepare for each holiday, but we must also consider how we want to connect this year.

I was staring at my computer screen and trying to decide what in the Jewish wedding I think is particularly Jewish and what might be universal ...

"Take solace in the fact that she's in a better place now."  "Don't sit around moping after the breakup—you need to get out!" "Cheer up! It'll get better from here." "You just gotta keep busy to keep your mind off of it!" "You're doing great!" "Life goes on, you can't drop out from it forever."

My first Taharah, ritual purification, was a trial of courage for me. I stepped in with little preparation, and it was new to me.