Orly Benaroch Light, at The Blogs

Jun 8, 2025, 11:48 PM

What I have Learned from Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude

A group of hikers are standing together holding hands in the mountains.
Shutterstock (2015)

I only hope to convey the feeling I felt the very first time I opened the covers of One Hundred Years of Solitude. It hit me like starlight—it was sudden, timeless, boundless. I remember thinking to myself: So now...

May 29, 2025, 12:33 PM

Calling for the Death of Arabs Won’t Bring the Mashiach (Messiah)

Mashiach Flag, Messiah Flag on a building in Tel Aviv, Israel Sept 2022 (IStock by Barbara Gabay)

The October 7 attacks, the ongoing war, and the continued captivity of hostages in Gaza have been a deeply traumatic experience for Israelis and Jewish communities around the world. Not just because of what happened—but because of what it...

May 11, 2025, 9:52 AM

L’dor V’dor: Honoring Life and Land on a Jewish Farm

The author with her daughter at Coastal Roots Farm

Seven months ago, my daughter shared news that brought joy to my heart—she was expecting her first child. My baby is about to become a mother. As Mother’s Day approached, my daughter, her husband, and his family planned a...

Apr 19, 2025, 9:49 PM

Mimouna’s Blessings: A Call for Healing and Connection

Mimouna Celebrations in Israel (IStock by chameleonseye)

Back when my parents were growing up in Morocco, the end of Passover wasn’t just a family affair—it was a neighborhood celebration. Kids would race from house to house—everyone did—greeting neighbors with cheerful cries of “terbah,” a blessing in...

Mar 9, 2025, 7:07 AM

Stop Kvetching, Make Sandwiches

Istock Israeli flag on top of sandwich with meat on black background.

The Jewish world is small enough that nearly all of us know someone directly affected by the Hamas-Israel war, the hostages in Gaza, or the looming threat of an Israel-Iran conflict. We’re also watching the political turmoil within the...

Jan 24, 2025, 11:43 PM

The Tragic Gap: Reflections on 4 More Years of Trump

The author in the tragic gap, faithfully holding the tension between reality and possibility.

I’ve always been full of big ideas. From the age of seven, I was constantly on the move, organizing everything and everyone. I wasn’t the most graceful—a three-inch scar on my thigh from an unfortunate encounter with a barbed...

Jan 11, 2025, 12:51 PM

Bem Vindos, Judeus! (Welcome, Jews!): My Journey Back to Portugal and Spain

The author celebrating the acquisition of her Portuguese citizenship in Portugal's Douro Valley.

My mother had a deep love for all things Spanish and was determined to pass that passion on to her children. Every morning at 5 a.m., as she prepared for work, her cassette player filled our home with the...

Sep 25, 2024, 9:44 PM

Dear Daughter: Vote for the Issues, Not the Candidate

The author attending a women’s health conference she organized in the Washington, D.C. (2018)

I want to begin by saying that my intention with this letter is not to lecture you or start an argument. Writing allows me to express myself my thoughts more clearly than texting or phone calls, especially on such...

Jun 13, 2024, 11:09 AM

How the Childhood of Tyrants is Affecting Us All

Valencia, Ninot de las Fallas 2018. Photo: Mikel Ponce. Archdc. Credit: Album / Archivo ABC / Mikel Ponce. Alamy Stock Photo

It is hard to remain oblivious to the fact that we are living in exceptionally violent and uncertain times. Bad news has become the norm. We are almost becoming desensitized to it in order to preserve our own wellbeing. Tragedies...

Apr 11, 2024, 11:06 PM

Forgiving the Unforgivable Is a Personal Choice

Last Sunday, I immersed myself in a day of community, learning, and exploration at the Jewish Community Center in San Diego. One of the sessions I attended was “The Broken Well: A Personal Perspective on October 7,” led by...

About Me

Orly Benaroch Light is an entrepreneur and passionate activist who founded a continuing medical education company led entirely by women. She has represented women’s voices at the United Nations and in national organizations, advocating for gender equality, peace, and security. Today, she channels her energy into a mission close to her heart: empowering women over 50 through her “Mid-Life Women” platform. When she’s not fostering connection and conversation, Orly is writing—her debut children’s book will be published in October 2025. She also loves cooking her favorite Mediterranean dishes, championing peace, advocating for women, and enjoying life as a mom and soon-to-be Grammie.

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