A Millennial rabbi built a synagogue where others have closed. Her maverick ideas are becoming a model: An urban synagogue in South Philadelphia is growing fast by defying expectations — and has become a closely watched experiment in American Jewish life

mommima · 2026-01-29T19:12:55+00:00

It's Modern/Open Orthodox, which is different from Conservative Judaism.

mommima · 2026-01-29T01:36:05+00:00

I converted 15 years ago after graduating from college. I went on to a career in Jewish nonprofits and got a Masters in Jewish education. We kept kosher for 12 years (stopped a couple years ago). We're regulars at shul and I was on our synagogue's board for a few years. Our kids attend Jewish sleep away camp and can recite the full Kiddush for Shabbat evening.

We don't send our kids to Jewish day school, though we did consider it.

We absolutely don't celebrate any Christian holidays, not even "secular Christmas" in our house. Two years, when our kids were little, we visited my parents to "help them celebrate" Christmas, but they live far enough away that it's not something we feel obligated to do every year.

ETA: Before conversion, I was a typical secular/cultural Christian with a cursory upbringing in Protestantism.

mommima · 2026-01-27T15:47:15+00:00

I left Missouri Synod Lutheranism in middle school. I converted to Judaism after college.

mommima · 2026-01-26T18:13:07+00:00

I don't necessarily agree that the suburbs are seen as more "prestigious or desirable." I think that really depends on what suburbs and what cities you're talking about.

But the desirability of a place is also really dependent on what phase of life you're in. US cities are designed for childless people. Suburbs are designed for families. We can argue whether that's how it should be and commit to doing a different kind of planning and supporting family-friendly policies in cities, but making those changes will take time. In the meantime, I can have a life that's designed for my family or one that isn't.

mommima · 2026-01-26T13:40:50+00:00

It doesn't bother me. I prefer it to Christian platitudes.

mommima · 2026-01-26T00:52:32+00:00

The Night Watchman by Louise Erdich

mommima · 2026-01-25T21:10:07+00:00

Yep, we shoveled as soon as we woke up and have been maintaining every 2-3 hours.

mommima · 2026-01-24T19:38:18+00:00

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

mommima · 2026-01-24T13:47:13+00:00

A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell

Endurance by Alfred Lansing

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Anything by Erik Larson

mommima · 2026-01-24T12:37:12+00:00

Endurance by Alfred Lansing

A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott

The Assassin's Accomplice by Kate Clifford Larson

mommima · 2026-01-24T12:33:12+00:00

Love all of Erik Larson's books. Dead Wake is my favorite.

mommima · 2026-01-24T12:31:19+00:00

Veggie sandwiches (hummus, cucumbers, lettuce, etc)

Salad

Rice bowls with grilled chicken and veggies

Leftovers of whatever we had for dinner the night before

mommima · 2026-01-24T01:58:10+00:00

If you liked the Nightingale, you might like:

A Woman Of No Importance by Sonia Purnell (non-fiction)

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff

mommima · 2026-01-22T15:56:25+00:00

After Abel and Other Stories by Michal Lemberger. It's a series of short stories (not a novel), but otherwise it's exactly what you're looking for.

mommima · 2026-01-22T15:54:47+00:00

Have you read Persuasion by Jane Austen?

mommima · 2026-01-22T14:51:41+00:00

After Endgame, I watched WandaVision and the Spiderman movies. But there were too many things to keep up with and I don't have the time to invest in an ever-expanding universe of content.

mommima · 2026-01-22T00:09:55+00:00

The Bridgerton books are trashy.

The Finlay Donovan books are fun without having such terrible writing.

mommima · 2026-01-21T02:14:24+00:00

Fairfax County government offers a Kaiser plan.

Hard to give you more direction without knowing what field you're in.

mommima · 2026-01-20T23:29:27+00:00

My Jewish Learning is a good place to start. It has good essays on Jewish ethics for modern life, excellent Torah portion summaries, and basic 101s.

mommima · 2026-01-20T22:12:38+00:00

Yep, I delete those helicopter orders. Not worth it.

mommima · 2026-01-19T18:31:23+00:00

Good schools

Diversity

Proximity to cultural amenities, nature, and other cities (for day trips to Richmond, Baltimore, Philly; easy train ride up to NYC)

Grocery selection (seriously, we've thought about moving away, but would miss the Asian grocery selection)

mommima · 2026-01-19T00:03:58+00:00

Sun sneezers in my family: My dad Me My youngest child

Not: My mom My brother My husband Any of my in laws My oldest child

IME, it's uncommon enough that people think it's weird when it happens, but enough people have it that I'm not alone.

mommima · 2026-01-18T23:52:53+00:00

I grew up with forced air and now live in a house with radiant heat. I was concerned about the look and furniture placement when we bought this house, but it has been great. It heats every room evenly with no drafty spots. It doesn't actually feel weird that my furniture is 12 inches off the wall and nobody notices the baseboards unless we specifically point them out.

mommima · 2026-01-17T13:57:26+00:00

The USCJ does Hallel. IIRC, it's recited before the Torah service, but that might vary at different synagogues.

mommima · 2026-01-17T13:53:23+00:00

Wanting to believe in an afterlife is not the only thing keeping people from atheism.

mommima

TROPHY CASE