Shalom at Home

It is that time of year again, when we are called to do acts of teshuvah, of repentance and return.

As a child, the thought of Yom Kippur filled me with cold, existential dread. The day itself would find me in tears, certain of my well-deserved doom — like, tomorrow.

My husband and I are blessed to be expecting a child this fall. Yet, when I look at the two children we have, I am filled with fear for our anticipated third.

I don’t know about you, but this summer was one of the fastest and most full summers I have ever experienced.

By the time you read this, you are likely finding whatever school supplies can be salvaged from last year. You’re plotting how to get your kid on a normal sleep schedule. You’re cleaning sunscreen out from the bottom of backpacks.

When I was growing up, my mom used to tell me that her mother — my grandmother — would wake her up every morning with the same question: “What do you want for dinner?”

Recently, my daughter made a friendship bracelet with her Jewish Girl Scout troop, complete with Star of David charms — very on brand.

As the point person for our local PJ Library, I am proud to foster Jewish community everywhere. Playgrounds, pools, splashpads, coffee shops, community centers and the occasional escape room or movie theater: Jewish life happens wherever there are Jews.

My favorite day of the year is the first day of summer.

We are hurtling through May toward the summer. Brace yourself, parents.