February 18, 2014 was the day I came out. That’s what my friends told me, at least. I associate “coming out” with news from friends who came out as gay or lesbian, who wanted to stop repressing or hiding parts of themselves. My “coming out” was different. I posted something personal on the Sh’ma blog, “S Blog,” which touched a … More »
1. There is a large, though relatively closed community named “Those Who Lived Through The Uncertain Trial of Fertility and Childbirth.” 2. While “our society” spends immense energy on warning teens about all the emotional / physical / social trials associated with becoming pregnant, it provides absolutely no preparation for 30 year olds as they … More »
I should start by noting that I’ve always wanted to be a father. At various times in my life, I have thought consciously and carefully about what I have learned from certain experiences that I wanted to someday pass on to a son or daughter of my own. I have thought long about the things … More »
Although human infertility is a main theme in the book of Genesis, the infertility of the matriarchs is interwoven with the infertility of the land. Just as the women are barren, the land is barren too. Even the first biblical command to be fertile, pru u’rvu, be fruitful and multiply, ends with the phrase, umilu … More »
One might find it odd that the rate of infertility in the Bible seems out of proportion. To start, there are the three matriarchs right in a row: Sarah, Rebecca and the beloved Rachel. Rival sister Leah is fertile but unloved. Then there’s the beloved wife of Elkanah, Hannah of Rosh Hashanah fame, mother of … More »
I’ll say it up front: Writing about infertility is something that is difficult for me. I know dear friends and congregants who have struggled with this issue, some of them exploring the path of adoption, some of them going for many rounds of IVF or for the intricacies of surrogacy, and some of them deciding … More »
How fitting it was for the Sh’ma editors to open this month’s edition with Shoshana Olidort’s piece, “On First Encountering Doubt.” Doubt seems to be one of several leitmotifs that weave through these articles. While it may seem odd, what first comes to my mind is Pope Francis. About a year ago, a papal interview was published … More »
Dear officials from the Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life, Koret Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Philanthropic Network, Nathan Cummings Foundation, and other major donors in the Jewish community; Thank you for your deep and sustained commitment to your vision of Jewish life. Your support has helped thousands of Jews thrive, learn, and improve the planet. … More »