Ariella Cohen, at The Blogs

Ariella Cohen

May 1, 2025, 8:16 PM

Photographed by the author in Netanya, April 25th, 2025

What is the difference between a blessing and a gift? Can the two words be used interchangeably? Are they one and the same? Does a blessing have to be something spiritual? Must a gift be physical? As I was seeing...

Aug 2, 2024, 3:00 PM

Featured Post

We don’t hand out candy when our enemies are killed

Illustrative. A screenshot from a MEMRI video showing an Islamic State member handing out candy to passing drivers to celebrate the downing of the Russian passenger plane on October 31, 2015. (MEMRI/ File)

I can understand the need to rejoice at the wins, but only terrorists treat death with sweets. Celebrate some other way

May 13, 2024, 12:19 AM

Where have all the good men gone?

Sitting here on this eve of Yom Hazikaron, my heart is feeling very heavy. I am trying to wrap my head around the magnitude of the loss that we as a nation have dealt with and continue to deal...

Apr 21, 2024, 5:28 PM

We’re Still Here

The Kotel on April 14th, 2024 (image courtesy of author)

By now it is common knowledge that the Jews are a resilient people, and this is true even more so for Israelis. This is always something that I’ve known intellectually, but it hits home differently after seeing it in...

Feb 16, 2024, 12:02 PM

From Babies to Old Ladies

The two soldiers that were killed the same day that the two hostages were rescued this week seem to have fallen through the cracks. The general public was talking about them less because there was parallel news that was...

Jan 20, 2024, 11:31 PM

The Cowards of Today

It’s been a while since I’ve noticed the parallels between current events and the weekly parsha. I’m sure they’ve been there, but they haven’t been jumping out at me. This week though, something in particular caught my eye. After...

Jan 15, 2024, 7:03 PM

The 100th Day of School

Handmaid mosaic commemorating the victims of October 7th, located in Netanya, Israel (courtesy)

Yesterday marked the 100th day of the war. Milchemet Simchat Torah, Operation Swords of Iron, whatever you want to call it. 100 days since October 7th. 100 days since the hostages were taken to Gaza. 100 days since the...

Dec 16, 2023, 11:50 PM

Liz’s Legacy

Antisemitism on college campuses came to a head last week in Congress. Israel being attacked just over two months ago seems to have unleashed unprecedented levels of Jew-hatred of various sorts all over the world, including on university campuses....

Dec 15, 2023, 1:11 PM

Stick With Us

Artwork on the streets of Ramat Beit Shemesh. (courtesy))

Once again, the weekly parshiot are eerily in sync with current events. Last week in Parshat Vayeshev, Joseph was given the Coat of Many Colors by Jacob. On the surface level, (without digging deeper into the story,) Joseph’s brothers...

Dec 8, 2023, 2:51 AM

Some Things Are Still Black and White

How many times have you (almost) missed a stop sign because it was blocked by a tree or hard to see in the dark? Do you doubt the sun’s existence even if it is temporarily hiding behind the clouds? Were your...

About Me

Ariella Cohen grew up in Far Rockaway, NY and made Aliyah from Bala Cynwyd, PA in August 2023. She is an engineer and amateur musician with lots of other hobbies on the side. She currently resides in Netanya.