Sukkot, Abundance and Senseless Pursuits
The Harvest Festival of Sukkot is in the beginning of October this year. Not as widely observed as Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, Sukkot has a lot of symbolism that can resonate with the experience of infertility. The unstable outdoor booths (Sukkot) that people live in represent the fragility of the material world. The biblical […]
That Time Again #HHD2023
There are many themes within the Jewish High Holidays. The beginning of the year, God’s rule, and teshuva/repentance. What often gets over looked is the pervading theme of fertility and infertility. Whether you are a seasoned attendee of High Holiday services or celebrate with a holiday dinner with friends or family, the significance of the […]
Counting Yourself
Counting days when you are young is often exciting. You count down to your birthday or the end of school. If you are experiencing infertility, you have likely counted days too and it was probably not so enjoyable. Days until ovulation, days after ovulation, days until a test, days waiting for results. Then there are […]
Being Redeemed from Infertility
On first glance Passover has nothing to do with (in)fertility. It’s about slavery in Egypt, God’s redemption, and the passage through the desert to join in covenant with God. On the other hand, (in)fertility is all over this holiday! How can anyone miss it? In addition to imposing hard labor, which is then made harder, […]
New #Hanukkah Resource Available
A Hanukkah Miracle Hanukkah is associated with miracles, standing up in the face of opposition, and succeeding against the odds. The Maccabees, a small band of rebels, fought against the mighty Greek- Assyrian army and prevailed in the end. They returned to the Temple and lit the one day’s worth of oil, which then lasted […]
Practice #SelfForgiveness this #YomKippur
Yom Kippur, Hawaii and Infertility Self-blame is often an uninvited guest at an infertility experience. It sometimes tags along with curiosity. Is this because I was on birth control pills? Sometimes it just walks in the front door. I waited too long. I didn’t take care of my body. I didn’t eat well. Other times […]
Happy Passover 2021
“Passover” is known by four names – the Festival of Freedom, Passover, the Festival of Matzah and the Spring Holiday. These four names are linked to four spiritual levels. The Feast of Freedom represents our physical freedom. Passover (sacrifice/shank bone) represents the ability to rise above our animal needs and do the right thing. The […]
Spiritual Care During Covid-19 (2)
The COVID19 pandemic came at an interesting time on the Jewish calendar. Something very important can be learned from this. The period of time between Passover, celebrating the Exodus from Egypt, and Shavuot, celebrating receiving Torah at Mount Sinai, is a time of counting. Bundles of wheat were brought to the Temple. The portion was […]
The Fifth Child at The Seder
Guest Blogger Julie Bindeman is a reproductive psychologist, speaker and author based in Rockville, MD One of the most familiar parts of the Passover Seder is the four sons/children. These children represent the different places in which people come to the Seder: knowing and wise; selfish (or wicked); simple (or not knowing); and the fourth […]
The Human Right to Have a Child
Published by Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Commentary on Rosh Hashanah Torah and Haftarah readings September 4, 2018 By Rabbi Idit Solomon Reproductive rights have been hijacked. When someone mentions the phrase “reproductive rights,” the first things that usually come to mind are either birth control or abortion. However, the ability to prevent […]