Debra Weiner-Solomont, at The Blogs

Jul 1, 2024, 12:38 AM

Thirty-one years ago today, our family—my husband, our four sons (ranging in age from 12 to 2), and I—boarded a flight to Israel. We left our family and friends in Boston to live our dream of raising our family...

Apr 25, 2023, 12:19 AM

Who is the torch lighting ceremony for?

Israel is about to celebrate its 75th birthday. The huge celebration of our independence day -- Yom HaAtzmaut -- comes on the heels of Israel’s memorial day -- Yom HaZikaron. The country transitions from the solemn memorial day to...

Mar 2, 2023, 9:55 PM

Two wrongs do not make a right

We hosted a guest a few weeks ago. Our guest shared that he had been on a tour of Hebron with Breaking the Silence Organization. Their first stop was Baruch Goldstein’s grave. The guide told the story of the...

Nov 8, 2022, 6:59 AM

Counting and more counting: A view from inside

From the time of Creation, we have been counting. The days of the week are counted in Breishit, The number of Israelites who entered Egypt are counted (70 people Exodus 1:5) An entire book is dedicated to numbers and counting....

Jul 31, 2022, 5:16 PM

The Power of Hello

A friend once shared a story about a time that she took her grandchildren to the beach. She sat alone and noticed a group of women chatting nearby. She decided to approach them. Her Hello led to a “shidduch”...

May 3, 2021, 3:41 PM

Crowd Control in the Beit Hamikdash

It was eerie to study yesterday’s daf in Tractacte Yoma, 21. The Rabbis grapple with how it was that so many thousands of worshippers were able to squeeze into the area of the Beit Hamikdash - עומדין צפופין they...

Jul 21, 2020, 4:26 PM

Creating Community through Zoom

The last portion of the Torah- זאת הברכה has the verse which we recite each morning, as part of the morning blessings. It is also the first verse we teach our children once they learn to talk: תורה צוה...

Jul 10, 2020, 3:16 PM

The changing face of our relationship with synagogue

The COVID-19 crisis has changed the way we conduct ourselves in so many ways especially now as the country may enter another lockdown. We must think and plan before going anywhere. Spontaneity has gone to the wayside, for now...

About Me

Debra Weiner-Solomont is the Director of the Pardes Institute Community Education Program. She received her MSW from Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Debra along with her husband and sons came on aliyah from Brookline, MA. 31 years ago.