David Bogomolny, at The Blogs

Apr 14, 2026, 4:11 PM

Why this feels different from the inside

A gap in perception Lately, I’ve found myself in conversations that feel strangely misaligned. People I know, people I respect, people I interact with regularly—we look at the same place, the same events, and seem to be seeing entirely different things....

Apr 14, 2026, 1:13 AM

Where are your horns?

In fourth grade, a new kid transferred to my school in New Jersey from Louisiana. His family was from Turkey; he hadn’t really met Jews before. We became friends quickly, sitting together at the back of the class and...

Jan 26, 2026, 12:56 PM

Aliyah without a container

The questions people ask Friends who visit Israel often ask me the same question. We’ll be sitting at Katzefet, talking, and at some point someone will ask whether I regret making aliyah, or whether I would recommend it. I understand the...

Jul 29, 2025, 7:15 AM

The measure, or: Grief

A Chōka death rains from the skies— the innocent burn with those who brandish the flame grief blankets scattered bodies is war ever just? there is endless blame to weigh— many bear a share every border blockaded though only one alone named why is truth too much? why do no neighboring...

Aug 13, 2019, 1:21 PM

The skeptic’s kaddish for the atheist, 51

Eleven months of kaddish recitations ended (blog #45); then twelve months of being considered a mourner according to Jewish tradition (#48); and then came the Hebrew anniversary of Papa's death, after thirteen months (#50). Now: the end of 'The...

Aug 5, 2019, 4:12 PM

The skeptic’s kaddish for the atheist, 50

Papa's first yahrzeit fell out on the Shabbat before last. So... what did marking this date change for me? * * * Some things are inevitable. Even before learning anything meaningful or interesting about the orphan's kaddish, I knew that I would attend minyan...

Jul 16, 2019, 9:23 PM

The skeptic’s kaddish for the atheist, 49

She was not yet three-and-a-half years-old when her grandfather died, but death was still beyond her imagination. On the other hand, she understood quite starkly, with dismayed frustration, that her father was abruptly leaving home again... "I have to...

Jul 7, 2019, 3:41 PM

The skeptic’s kaddish for the atheist, 48

I am no longer a "mourner" according to tradition, but am I no longer mourning? This is beyond me. Can one truly mourn forever, or does mourning inevitably decay into normalcy? Less than one Hebrew month remains until my father's...

Jun 23, 2019, 2:09 AM

The skeptic’s kaddish for the atheist, 47

Two weeks ago a middle-aged woman approached me at the back of the sanctuary, as I was readying to head home for havdalah. I've been thinking about you recently. You must be nearly done by now... I'm almost at the...

Jun 11, 2019, 1:46 PM

The skeptic’s kaddish for the atheist, 46

I continue attending minyan every day, despite having completed the traditional 11 months of orphan's kaddish. I continue standing alone at the back, feeling forever a faithless foreigner. Why do I - go? care? bother? ... always the same tired questions. Putting aside the old,...

About Me

David Bogomolny was born in Jerusalem to parents who made Aliyah from the USSR in the mid-70's. He grew up in America, and returned to Israel as an adult. He works for the Israel Democracy Institute as a program development officer. He and his wife and daughter live in Jerusalem.

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