Merri Ukraincik is a blogger and essayist who is at work on a memoir. Follow her at merriukraincik.com.
When I was little, I got to meet Santa Claus at the mall. I quickly discovered that we had something surprising in common.
Every year I perform kapores with money, just as he did in his later years. But once, just once, I tried it with a live chicken.
In 1992 I traveled to Zagreb to help displaced persons fleeing Bosnia and Herzegovina. Years later, I visited Sarajevo and pondered the fragility of freedom.
How an afghan helps me stay connected to the grandmother I lost more than a decade ago
A childhood costume that once concealed what I wanted to hide now reveals what I want to hold tight
A challenging and nostalgic visit to see my son in Jerusalem became an inspiration
As parents, we protect our children against everything from measles to polio. How do we inoculate them against bigotry?
That radio bonded me to my grandfather, and to God, when I was a child. Decades later, it helped keep my family safe during a disaster.
At his bar mitzvah, my son took his place in the men’s section of the shul—a place where mothers can’t go
