Category Archives: Torah

My Father’s Chest of Drawers: Parashat Shelach

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Gail F. Nalven

If you told me that my father would outlive my mother, I would have said you were crazy. After all, he was eight years older than her and suffered with Parkinson’s and macular degeneration for years. But somehow, he managed … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Torah | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

What a Difference A Week Makes: Loss in the Age of Covid-19

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Gail F. Nalven

Just two weeks ago, we had a luncheon in a restaurant to celebrate my spouse’s birthday. When people arrived, we joked about not kissing and hugging. When we parted, most of us forgot about the new protocol and joyfully hugged … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Torah | 6 Comments

I’M ANGRY

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Gail F. Nalven

I’m angry. I am so angry. And I’ve had it. Shabbat is one of my favorite times of the week. Sometimes, I am teaching or leading some sort of service. Sometimes, as today, I can have a leisurely day. Avoiding … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Torah | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Year of Repairing Gail: My Adventures in Healthcare

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Gail F. Nalven

When I was young, my parents were not big on attending doctors. We went for our annual exams for school, but they didn’t run for every ache and fever. Take an aspirin and go to school was their philosophy. While … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Judaism, Tefillah (prayer), Torah | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Blogging the Torah: Parashat Chayei Sarah, Matriarchs Galore

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Gail F. Nalven

  Thanksgiving weekend seemed an appropriate time to think about the matriarchs in our lives. First, there were the matriarchs at many of our Thanksgiving tables. At mine their were two, my mother and my brother’s mother-in-law. Then there is … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Torah, Women | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blogging the Torah: Parashat Vayeira, Ishmael, Isaac, and the Rabbi’s Bathroom

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Gail F. Nalven

A few weeks ago a pipe burst in the ceiling above our tub. The building quickly repaired it and covered it up for a few weeks. When it came time to make sure that the pipe was holding, we decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Spirituality, Teaching/Education, Torah | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blogging the Torah: Parashat Noach, From Shelach to Lecha

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Gail F. Nalven

This weekend I was in my happy place, singing with 75 of my closest friends at an annual program called Shabbat Shira held in the woods of Wisconsin. Held at the URJ’s camp Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute, this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Spirituality, Torah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

IN MITZRAYIM: ON THE BANKS OF DENIAL

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Gail F. Nalven

On the rare occasion that my spouse and I encounter someone who just doesn’t get it, whatever “it” is, we might say to each other, they’re in Mitzrayim, the biblical word for Egypt. We don’t even need to use the … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Jewish Holidays, Tefillah (prayer), Torah | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blogging the Torah: Parashat Shemot, What Happened?

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Gail F. Nalven

It seems almost appropriate that this week’s Torah portion is read on the cusp of a new year as it represents a transitional time for the Israelite people. We have just ended the book of Bereshit (Genesis). The Israelites have … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Torah | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“The Other” Is You

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Gail F. Nalven

In preparation for the new season of Downton Abbey, PBS ran a behind-the-scenes show the other night. I was struck by their insistence on propriety. Clothing, posture, and manners must adhere to the period. (Although, we have caught a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Teaching/Education, Tefillah (prayer), Torah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment