Deena's home online

The most recent writing is on top.

HaBitza.com is a website cowritten with Vera Resnick about the good the bad and the ugly of dating for marriage in the more traditional community.

Blog midrash, my blog for Jewish discussion.

Why Israel is inspiring (April 23, 2010, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) Ask the Rabbi column with Rabbi Shmulik Yeshayahu of the Ohel Yaakov Community Kollel.

Why is matza central to Pessach? (March 26, 2010, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) An ask the rabbi column with Rabbi Shmulik Yeshayahu.

Why do people suffer? (February 26, 2010, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) The ask the rabbi column with Rabbi Shmulik Yeshayahu.

The local Jewish legal eagles (February 12, 2010, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – What is the role of the beit din (the Jewish court of law) in the Vancouver Jewish community? I speak to Rabbi Avraham Feigelstock and Rabbi Yosef Benarroch.

Do miracles happen? (January 22, 2010, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – An ask the rabbi column with Rabbi Shmulik Yeshayahu. Answering the question: “Come on, you really expect me to believe in miracles?!”

We are a kingdom of priests (November 27, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – An ask the rabbi column with Rabbi Shmulik. Why is the term “the chosen people” OK?

Generations survive, thrive (October 30, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – An ask the rabbi column with Rabbi Shmulik. His material, my writing.

An ode to Jewish community (September 25, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – I wrote a thank you letter to the Vancouver Jewish community that was published in the paper after I left.

Use the soul to discover faith (September 18, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – I co-wrote this article with Rabbi Shmulik Yeshayahu. It’s an “Ask the rabbi” column.

Bacteria and humans (August 28, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – Hebrew U professor talks about the interactions between humans and bacteria.

Learning by traveling (August 28, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – Canadian Friends of Hebrew University offers an intellectual journey to Israel.

Graduation at Melton (June 26, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – Jewish adult education in Vancouver.

Temple Sholom tribute (June 26, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – The cantor of 20 years retired.

Judaism in an artistic light (June 5, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – Two Emily Carr students, one Jewish, one not, use Jewish themes in their grad projects. A favourite

Leave no victims (June 3, 2009, Her Journey blog)

Focusing on identity (May 29, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – Rabbi Yossi Jacobson spoke about the Jews’ struggle with accepting our own identity. A Kollel event.

Ben-Yehuda visits Vancouver (May 15, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – an interview with the grandson of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the father of modern Hebrew.

Two communities connect (May 1, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – A joint program with the Armenian and Jewish communities in Vancouver. Very touching.

Real estate and wine (May 1, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – Interesting guy! So interesting he had to be sensored for the paper!

Marking a rare event (April17, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – A communal blessing of the sun (happens every 28 years!)

Speaking about their beliefs (April17, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) (See a picture of the hard copy here.) A favourite

The brutal honesty of a single woman (April 11, 2009, Her Journey blog)

Exploring their history (April 3, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – A book review

Teaching kids to give (Mar. 27, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – Mitzva day

ZAKA visits Vancouver (Mar. 27, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – I got to interview a most influencial person! A favourite

What it’s like to be different from my parents (Mar. 15, 2009, avrum.net) A favourite

What was the curse again? (Mar. 3, 2009, Her Journey blog)

Editor leaves for Israel (cover, Feb. 27, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC)

Being Jewish and gay (Feb. 27, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – A program for high school students on sexual orientation

Thank God I didn’t live then (Feb. 25, 2009, Her Journey blog)

JNF is more than trees (cover, Feb 20, 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, BC) – KKL’s annual intimate dinner

My first article in the Canadian Jewish News about the Kollel in Vancouver: Kolel markets ‘Judaism as something very cool’ (Feb. 5, 2009, Canadian Jewish News)

My first opinion piece published! Yay! Visiting Israel is best support (Jan. 23 2009, Jewish Independent, Vancouver, B.C.)

Join a circle of friends (Jan. 16, 2009, Jewish Independent) – About Chabad of downtown’s Jewish women’s circle.

Vancouverites react to war (cover, with Ron Friedman, Jan. 16, 2009, Jewish Independent) – Our pro-Israel rally

I was hired as the photographer for the pro-Israel rally that took place in a Vancouver synagogue on January 8, 2009. Here are the photos.

NBN reconnects souls (Jan. 9, 2009, Jewish Independent) – Nefesh B’Nefesh, the organization that helps, mostly North American Jews, make aliya to Israel.

Learning from Rivka (Dec. 19, 2008, Jewish Independent) – Chabad’s annual event for women

The Gift/Gelt Dilemma (Dec. 12, 2008, Jewish Independent) – Thoughts on Chanuka

My first front-page article: From tears to action (cover, Dec. 12, 2008, Jewish Independent) – Memorial service for the Jewish Mumbai terrorist attack victims.

The art of parenthood (Jewish Independent) – A parenting event at Schara Tzedeck

Vancouver as ideology (Jewish Independent) – Howard Rotberg’s new book about Vancouver’s culture

Jewish youth join in Whistler (Jewish Independent) – A weekend in Whistler for Jewish young adults

Israelis doing business here (Jewish Independent) – Israeli entrepreneurs

Tough time for singles (Jewish Independent) – Being single during the holidays

israelplug: A lot of the posts at this site are by yours truly. When you click on a post you can see who the author is.

A freelance article about emotionally healthy dieting, was published in The Jewish Independent on June 1st, 2007 (Jewish Independent)

A food and nutrition column in the Connections magazine: I had a column which ran every 1-2 months for around 4 years, starting when I was a university student. Click here and then search for the word “levenstein” in order to see a farely large sample of my columns.

More examples to be posted in the future.