Leah Richman, at The Blogs

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Jun 15, 2023, 7:44 AM

How car birth sparked charity marathon for Israeli mom

Twenty years ago, my midwife added to my reasons for planning a natural childbirth: "We don't know enough yet about what the experience of natural childbirth gives to women in terms of self-confidence, belief in their own strength, and...

Nov 29, 2022, 9:17 PM

Nazi Name-Calling

Comparing views you don’t agree with as similar to those held by Nazis both belittles the Shoah (Holocaust) and is a non-starter for civil discourse. Name-calling in general ramps up negative rhetoric and detracts from the useful exchange of...

Jun 30, 2022, 6:57 AM

God Bless Israel

Who do you think would be more likely to buy a shirt with the phrase "God bless Israel" on it, a Jew, or a Christian?" If you answered "a Christian," your gut instinct is correct. In my work as...

Sep 5, 2021, 9:27 AM

Why do we keep saying the traditional Rosh Hashana simanim blessings?

(courtesy)

Have you ever wanted new or different Rosh Hashana blessings to accompany the simanim (symbolic foods)? Does it bother you to have the head of a fish on your table? Then you are not alone. I've written some new Rosh...

Aug 29, 2021, 8:09 AM

God Detests Polarization

Tonight begins Slichot, the period of penitentiary prayers said leading up to the holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. I've always liked studying the slichot prayers because they are creative, poetic, artistic, and well, just different. While for...

Jan 30, 2021, 12:37 AM

Bless this year

I was davening the other day, really trying to focus on every word, and I noticed the incredibly appropriate "blessing for the years" in the Amida. I had never dwelled on that particular bracha before, as so many others...

Jan 26, 2021, 8:40 PM

Esther: The original ‘Queen’s Gambit’

What is a gambit? And did Queen Esther take one? After watching the most recent binge-worthy Netflix series, "The Queen's Gambit," I investigated the meaning of the word "gambit" and whether it is a good thing or a bad...

Oct 26, 2020, 7:15 AM

Longing for Israel on #InternationalArtistsDay

One of the things on my bucket list is to attend the Jerusalem Biennale. According to their website "The Jerusalem Biennale is dedicated to exploring the places in which contemporary art and the Jewish world of content meet....

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About Me

Leah Richman is a rabbi and ketubah designer living with her husband in Hashmonaim, Israel, and wintering in Boca Raton, Florida. She has worked in congregations and Jewish Federations, and currently designs Jewish art at etsy.com/shop/ketubahsandmore, designs files for crafters at etsy.com/shop/nightowllane, blogs, and is available for personal spiritual direction.

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