As families spread out and Jewish life changes, a generation of grandparents is going the extra mile to pass down Jewish tradition, identity and belonging.

In the wake of unimaginable grief, Debbie Derby created Nashira to honor her daughter and strengthen connections among the next generation of Jewish girls.

While Jewish joy can be found in loud celebratory times, some of the most meaningful moments happen quietly, in unexpected places.

In the late 1970s, the writer's father, a dairy farmer in Goshen, N.Y., got a call from Mel Reisfield, who ran Camp Tel Yehudah. Mel wanted their cows.

Since Jen Taylor Friedman penned her first Torah in 2007, several dozen women have followed suit, creating an entire professional category that did not exist a generation ago.

Buchdahl’s deep spiritual faith and determination in ‘breaking a stained-glass ceiling’ of male rabbinic gatekeepers has made her one of the best-known and most admired rabbis in America.

In these trying times, my dear sisters, know that you are not alone.

"I cannot sleep," writes the author. "I sit in class numb, not listening to a single word. I’m only 17 but I know I cannot be silent."