One thing that brings me joy each week is logging into Instagram to see what this rabbi and rabbi-to-be are up to. Sam and Rena are the brilliant minds behind the insanely popular Instagram handle @modern_ritual. It has been said that connecting over social media is incomparable to in real life, but Sam and Rena have managed to defy all odds…
Read MoreToday, I am very honored to share with you an interview with my tea sensei and spiritual guide, Sochi Takahara. It is extremely rare that cameras and notebooks are allowed into the tea room. This interview took much convincing, and a combined hope that offering a glimpse into the tea room might be helpful in the lives of others.
Read MoreWhen I married someone who was not Japanese American, it was never a topic of conversation with either of our families. That’s why I was so struck when I learned about Loving Day and the landmark Loving v. Virginia case. It wasn’t that long ago when being married could have landed us in jail, as it did for many couples. I recently had the opportunity to interview Ken Tanabe, the founder of Loving Day, on the nuances of ethnicity, how to celebrate Loving Day, and gatherings around the globe!
Read MoreEarlier this spring, I met with Rabbi Angela Warwick Buchdahl in New York. I had heard of her years ago when I stumbled upon a video of her on Facebook, lighting Hanukkah candles at the White House with the Obamas. When I saw the video I was immediately brought to tears. Here was a woman who looked like me, and she was considered a leader. Rabbi Buchdahl is truly a force, and I’m so honored to share her story with you.
Read MoreFor the very first Nourish Co. interview of the year, I am honored to share Jessica’s story with you. In it, she talks about the “beauty and challenge of celebrating our ancient heritages, while simultaneously embracing our modern, multicultural identities.” She shares what marrying into a Chinese family has taught her, her mother-in-law’s famous fish dumpling soup for Chinese New Year, her thoughts on interfaith and interracial marriage, and so much more…
Read MoreWhen I was growing up, I looked forward to a festival at my Japanese school and local Japanese American Buddhist Church, called Obon. Very simply put, Obon is like the Japanese version of Dia de los Muertos. It’s a time when we celebrate and honor the spirit of our ancestors through dance.
Read MoreLast year, I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Code Switch (a podcast about race and identity), when I heard an episode that triggered something powerful in me.
Read MoreTraditional cultures around the world have rituals around death and dying to help people heal. Over the years, many of those rituals got lost on their way to us.
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