This weekend, The Boy and I went to his hometown. We’re staying with his parents for a few days and he’s showing me around places important to him and meeting his friends. We got in late last night, around 11 by the time we pulled into the driveway. There’s a mezuzah on the door to the garage. And one on the laundry room. And one on the bedroom. Read More »

I just had a minor heart attack. We’ve still got Purim to get through, but Pesach is 6 weeks away. Six weeks. I need to start preparing yesterday. . Read More »

I’m asking all of you for a big favor right now. There is a guy on my Birthright trip, let’s call him Moshe, that grew up a half-black/half-Ashkenazi Jew in LA. We’re talking teffillin-laying, Shabbes-keeping, kosher-eating Jew who has had his Judaism questioned every single day that he walked into a synagogue because of the color of his skin. Read More »

So you know that phrase that says Moshiach will come when all Jews keep Shabbat twice (or, according to some traditions, thrice) in a row? Yeah. I’m pretty sure I’m the one keeping Moschiach from coming. I am not shomer Shabbat. I never have been, and I don’t think I ever will be. Read More »

I usually avoid political discussions on this blog. I feel they can alienate some readers and are the quickest way to insert my mouth into my foot in the heat of passion. But, before the U.S. congress at this moment are two bills that I care so passionately about that I had to break my rule of thumb. Read More »

Or rather, HOW to begin. How do I begin to describe 10 days that felt, in all honestly, like ten months? I heard from everyone before I left that I wouldn’t sleep on the trip, that that wasn’t the purpose of the trip, and that I could sleep when I got back. Read More »

I have no idea how asthmatic Israelis survive. I’m back, hacking up a lung, but alive and happy to have experienced what I did. I’m still not at a point where I can articulate what I experienced, exactly, but I’ll try to put it into words as the days pass. Read More »

You have reached the blog of Mikvah Bound. I am either writing on paper or away from my laptop at the moment. Because I am in Israel. Until January 5th. Please leave a message with your name and contact method after the beep and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks. Bye. Beep. . Read More »

Next week at this time, I will be in Israel. It hasn’t even sunk in yet. The amount of clothes suggested for this 10 day trip is enough for a month for me. Read More »

My mom doesn’t always understand why I’m so excited to see Jews in the media. I think any member of a minority group can relate: we’re very rarely in the media, and when we are, it’s not always as a fully-fleshed out, nuanced character. We’re always some plot device or trite archtype. Read More »

I was so excited to hear that the Bay Area had finally gotten its Jewish act together and that this winter we would welcome Limmud to our stomping grounds. I found out last week that registration is $190, including the sessions, a hotel room, and 4 kosher meals, at a state beach/park in Monterey. Sounds loverly. Read More »

I just got back from an off-site meeting with some of our contractors. When I was headed out, one of the guys I worked with at many community events introduced me to a new employee of theirs with: “this is the one I was telling you about, the one who converted in May. She works on events and social media monitoring with us.” “Yeah. Read More »

Everything was going fine yesterday until I checked Facebook at lunch.  First I read a story about a small Baptist Church in Kentucky that voted recently to not allow interracial couples to join as members.  Sure, they could come to worship, but they couldn’t participate in any services unless it was a funeral. Read More »

I read an article in the Chronicle yesterday about a temporary record store that will set up shop in the Mission District for the month of December.  The man behind this project rented an art gallery and is turning it into a mid-century American living room to highlight Tikva Records . Read More »

Erika, blogger extraordinaire of Black, Gay, and Jewish , got back from Israel and I’ve been reading through her posts, and those of other people who went on her trip.  I found the blog of one extraordinary writer who traveled as well. Read More »

I love that Jews start each day with this phrase (or modeh ani if you are a dude), grateful to experience life, all of its blessings and all of its hardships, for just one more day. Lots of family issues have surfaced this week and it’s been hard to find and truly acknowledge the goods in my life as I struggle in my role as daughter and sister. Read More »

Isn’t it amazing what gets done when The Boy is out of town? . Read More »

I’ve purchased my flight to LAX.  I really wanted to fly down on Christmas Eve, rent a hotel, and take like a 6 am taxi to the airport even though my flight leaves at 1: 30 pm on Christmas Day.  Instead I leave at 6 am on Christmas morning. Read More »

I went to my coworkers’ daughter’s Bat Mitzvah a few weeks ago.  I was one of three people from his work that was invited, so I made a special effort to attend.  Five minutes in, I knew that this was going to be a loooooong Shabbat morning service. It was so Reform-y that I think it was a shock to my system. Read More »

The Boy’s parents flew in for the weekend before Halloween. I think anyone meeting the parents for the first time is nervous, but this time left me even more anxious. This was 6 months in. Read More »