Marianne Novak, at The Blogs

Apr 8, 2026, 5:07 AM

Suicide, Halakha and Practice: From Sin to Understanding and Compassion

*This article originally appeared in the recent JOFA journal. JOFA.org The 9th yahrzeit for Batsheva Chaya Stadlan z’l will be observed on the 25th of Nisan. — “Why’d she do it?” “She seemed so happy.” “I don’t understand.” “Will she be buried in a different...

Aug 5, 2025, 12:11 AM

The Menopause Moment

A number of years ago, as a newly minted graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, I received my first official niddah (family purity) query. I spent an entire year learning the intricate details of the halakhot (laws) themselves and their methods influence...

Apr 15, 2025, 8:17 PM

Her Soul Resides Beyond Nature

Batsheva z”l in all her sartorial splendor before a concert.

The 25th of Nissan, כ״ה ניסן, will be the 8th yahrzeit of my daughter, Batsheva Chaya Stadlan z”l. It is so difficult to acknowledge that so much time has passed as her loss is still so very tangible though...

Oct 1, 2024, 6:04 PM

Teshuvah from Strength

As I have become older I have found- much to my surprise - that I am an adrenaline junkie— that I truly enjoy the thrill of ziplining, bungee jumping, rappelling and the like- as they seem to satisfy that...

Jun 4, 2024, 12:19 AM

I am Ruth

I am Ruth I am the best friend, your bff I am loyal and kind Yet I live in a land that is less so A land whose origins were sinful Yet born from women- From Lot’s brave daughters Who thought the human race was over - who...

May 1, 2024, 8:12 PM

The Sh’mittah Year of Grief

My beautiful daughter Batsheva Chaya Stadlan a”h died almost seven years ago. It is hard to believe that so much time has passed as my memory can access the day she left this world for the next with great...

Apr 8, 2024, 12:14 AM

The Passover Haggadah: The Container of All Things

How on earth are we going to be able to celebrate Passover, the Holiday of Freedom this year? How are we going to have a Seder? For so many of us now, Pesach observance seems so incredibly hard. Since October 7th,...

Feb 28, 2024, 8:32 PM

A healthy brain never plans its own demise: Suicide is not protest

As the Jewish community endures the horrors of October 7th and its seemingly unending aftermath, we have seen all manner of protest from supporters of Palestinians and Hamas spreading outright falsehoods on social media, doxxing Jewish content creators in...

Feb 26, 2024, 4:50 PM

Featured Post

Yes, my son is staying at Columbia

Student-warriors taking on campus battles are to be applauded but Jewish kids who just want to go to school deserve support too

Oct 12, 2023, 9:56 PM

God’s plan is never one of evil

Yesterday was my birthday. Many of the messages I received from friends and family went something like this: ‘Happy Birthday. Sorry it has to be under these circumstances.’ ‘Happy Birthday. Hope you’ll find a way to celebrate if but a little...

About Me

Rabbi Marianne Novak received Semikha from Yeshivat Maharat 2019. She lives in Skokie, IL with her husband Noam Stadlan. She is an educator for the Melton Adult Education Program, the Jewish Learning Collab. She is the poseket for the Skokie Women's Tefillah Group and Rabbinic advisor for A Mitzvah To Eat. Currently she is rabbi and Judaic studies faculty at Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School in Chicago, IL.

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