I loved the time I spent in England, but I would’ve enjoyed it more had my school attempted to create a more diverse, welcoming, and not Christian-centric environment.

I wondered, and still do, why it is that I can’t be accepted as a “real Jew” everywhere I go.

Hineni invites you to confront your own presence, and its unique and vital impact it has on any given point in time.

If non-Jews had more understanding of what our people went through, it would take a lot of emotional labor off the shoulders of Jewish kids.

By choosing this tallit, I am honoring the hard work of other women that allowed me to go through this process.

The thought of wearing something that declared my Judaism felt strange.

Standing in front of my closest friends and family discussing a holy text that claimed women “do not count” taught me to pay more attention. I became a Jewish feminist.

With my grandmother and my mom in mind, I chose a design for my tallit bag that represents the influence that women have had throughout my life as a proud Jew.

Particular emphasis is put on setting the table for these occasions. So much of my Jewish and familial identity is tied to these meals.

With all the joy in the room, I didn’t understand why my eyes would begin to water.

Celebrate Mizrahi Heritage Month by checking out some of our favorite JWA content by and about Mizrahi women. 

There is a point of tension for me in both being valued in the Jewish community and being devalued by the Torah’s discussion and treatment of women. Owning my own tallit reminded me that I am valued twice.

When I unfold my little silver candle holder and light the flames, I bring in the light of a commitment to practicing my Judaism alongside my feminism.

Even though Kiddush has traditionally been done by men and I was just a girl, I took it upon myself to make Kiddush each week. 

This is how we grieve: crying, laughing, brisket and Yahrzeit candles. Again and again and again.

My uncle had the idea that maybe I could weave a tallis of my own. But I didn’t want it to somehow invalidate my bat mitzvah.

As a teen with a Muslim-Palestinian father and a Jewish-American mother, the hamsa has always meant a lot to me.