RedefiningRebbetzin Profile

Latest Blog Posts

• Answering the call
  on Jan 17, 2016 in Uncategorized
    As I’ve mentioned, I have the immense honor of interning at The Center For Jewish Living at JCC Manhattan this year. I also have the honor of interning alongside a woman getting smicha at JTS who recently shared about a project she was asked...
• My Maharat Life
  on Nov 5, 2015 in Melissa Feminism Jewish leadership Jewish Learning jewish women Orthodox Feminism Orthodox Judaism Religion Women Yeshivat Maharat
  I am a future Maharat. I am a wife and a mother. A sister and a daughter. A friend. A social worker. A writer. I am a lover of Torah and Judaism. Of Jews and the Jewish community. I am learning Isur v’Heter and Orach Chayim. I am learning Masechet...
• Finishing Four Years
  on May 6, 2015 in Jessica Jewish leadership milestones rabbi
  As Melissa mentioned, she and I were at an event where we got to talk to several rebbetzins in the field. As we sat around the table, I realized, possibly for the first time, that our time as students is ending. Real life is just around the corner. T...
• Reflections and Gratitude
  on May 5, 2015 in Melissa Gratitude Jewish leadership jewish women Judaism Memories Rebbetzin Religion
  As those of you who have been reading our blog for some time know, we have all had pretty winding journeys. While we haven’t been nearly as prolific as we once were, this blog has been a great source of support on these journeys, and its still...
• Leading the Exodus
  on Feb 3, 2015 in Melissa Exodus jewish community Jewish leadership Jewish Learning Judaism Learning Miriam Moshe Nachshon Shmot
  We read this past week about the moment at which three dynamic leaders stood at the edge of the sea, and how different their experiences were surrounding that moment. A mentor shared a bit about something she spoke about and it really made me think...
• The Cadence of Kaddish
  on Jan 29, 2015 in Melissa aveilut avelut Judaism kaddish mourning Orthodox Feminism pregnancy
  I have been wanting to write about saying Kaddish for months now, but I always felt like I needed to tell a grand story, to find some way to encapsulate all the emotions and experiences in one cohesive post – and that was too daunting a task. H...
• Its my birthday and I’ll blog if I want to
  on Oct 5, 2014 in Melissa change children family jewish Jewish leadership Jewish Learning jewish women Orthodox Judaism rabbi Rabbinical School
  I've started to write a few blogs recently, but feel like its weird to just dive back in after my hiatus without saying hello and giving some closure. So, I figured what better day than my 32nd birthday to do just that!
• Its my birthday and I’ll blog if I want to
  on Oct 5, 2014 in Melissa change children family jewish Jewish leadership Jewish Learning jewish women Orthodox Judaism rabbi Rabbinical School
  I've started to write a few blogs recently, but feel like its weird to just dive back in after my hiatus without saying hello and giving some closure. So, I figured what better day than my 32nd birthday to do just that!
• Review: Talmudic Images
  on May 14, 2014 in Melissa Reviews Gemara Jewish Learning Judaism Review Steinsaltz Talmud
  Anyone who has ever learned the Talmud, be it in daily practice of Daf Yomi or a single shiur, knows that the wisdom of our sages is vast and keeping track of the sages themselves is quite a task. This is where Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz comes to our resc...
• Review: Talmudic Images
  on May 14, 2014 in Melissa Reviews Gemara Jewish Learning Judaism Review Steinsaltz Talmud
  Anyone who has ever learned the Talmud, be it in daily practice of Daf Yomi or a single shiur, knows that the wisdom of our sages is vast and keeping track of the sages themselves is quite a task. This is where Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz comes to our resc...
• The First Day
  on May 11, 2014 in Melissa Eema Memories Mom Mommie Mother's Day motherhood Remember
  Apparently the roller coaster of the pregnant avel continues after the pregnancy ends….   Today is my *first* Mother’s Day. My first as a mother. My first without my mother.    I have been having anxiety about today for weeks &...
• The First Day
  on May 11, 2014 in Melissa Eema Memories Mom Mommie Mother's Day motherhood Remember
  Apparently the roller coaster of the pregnant avel continues after the pregnancy ends….   Today is my *first* Mother’s Day. My first as a mother. My first without my mother.    I have been having anxiety about today for weeks &...
• Continually opting in to Orthodoxy
  on Apr 6, 2014 in Melissa Feminism jewish women Judaism Modern Orthodoxy Orthodox Feminism Orthodox Judaism
  There has been a lot of talk online over the past few months about Orthodox Feminism – ranging from how it is not possible, to how oppressed we are, to why we stay Orthodox. The posts on the latter topic seem to come mostly from women who grew...
• Continually opting in to Orthodoxy
  on Apr 6, 2014 in Melissa Feminism jewish women Judaism Modern Orthodoxy Orthodox Feminism Orthodox Judaism
  There has been a lot of talk online over the past few months about Orthodox Feminism – ranging from how it is not possible, to how oppressed we are, to why we stay Orthodox. The posts on the latter topic seem to come mostly from women who grew...
• Life is a journey, God is the guide
  on Jan 8, 2014 in Melissa God jewish Judaism Learning Religion Torah
  Today in my Chumash class, we were asked to think/write about how we view or relate to God as part of a discussion about revelation. I had to (sadly) admit to myself that I don’t really think about God on a regular basis, I have just internaliz...
• Life is a journey, God is the guide
  on Jan 8, 2014 in Melissa God jewish Judaism Learning Religion Torah
  Today in my Chumash class, we were asked to think/write about how we view or relate to God as part of a discussion about revelation. I had to (sadly) admit to myself that I don’t really think about God on a regular basis, I have just internaliz...
• Getting to, and through, shloshim
  on Oct 9, 2013 in Melissa aveilut avelut family funeral Judaism Memories Mommie mourning Orthodox Judaism shiva shloshim
  You may have noticed the serious lack of posts from me over the past few months, and well, there is in fact a reason: I’ve been getting to and thus inevitably through shloshim. What follows is a bit of a recount of the past few months, more for...
• Getting to, and through, shloshim
  on Oct 9, 2013 in Melissa aveilut avelut family funeral Judaism Memories Mommie mourning Orthodox Judaism shiva shloshim
  You may have noticed the serious lack of posts from me over the past few months, and well, there is in fact a reason: I’ve been getting to and thus inevitably through shloshim. What follows is a bit of a recount of the past few months, more for...
• One of Four, but All for One
  on May 13, 2013 in Melissa Feminism jewish women Judaism Kotel Prayer Religion Women Women of the Wall
  I had the distinct honor to be at the kotel for Rosh Chodesh Sivan. At least, that is what I believed as I left my house that morning and wrote this on Facebook: I believe that prayer is a communal mitzvah. I believe that Rosh Chodesh is a special t...
• One of Four, but All for One
  on May 13, 2013 in Melissa Feminism jewish women Judaism Kotel Prayer Religion Women Women of the Wall
  I had the distinct honor to be at the kotel for Rosh Chodesh Sivan. At least, that is what I believed as I left my house that morning and wrote this on Facebook: I believe that prayer is a communal mitzvah. I believe that Rosh Chodesh is a special t...