Finding the Joy

Finding the Joy is a weekly column by Uriel ben Avraham that anchors the ancient rhythm of the Torah to the messy, modern world. Each week, we'll search for an actual moment of simcha—joy.

Until the Flame Rises

At Auschwitz-Birkenau, the history is curated and the word "Jews" is scarce. Then we stumbled into a minyan, and the museum became something else.

Finding the Joy

Uriel ben Avraham

Jun 13, 20254 min read

Fifteen Words

The oldest biblical text ever found — fifteen Hebrew words of blessing, given in the wilderness. Friday night they'll be spoken at a Chabad house in Krakow.

Finding the Joy

Uriel ben Avraham

Jun 6, 20254 min read

Counted by Name

Se'u et rosh — "lift up the head." The Torah doesn't tally the Israelites. It elevates them, one by one, by name. A new convert in Tel Aviv is still learning what that means.

Finding the Joy

Uriel ben Avraham

May 30, 20254 min read

Strangers Resident

Two years ago I visited Israel as a tourist. This week I landed ten days after my conversion. Same sign at Ben Gurion. Different person reading it.

Finding the Joy

Uriel ben Avraham

May 23, 20254 min read

Three Days In

I became a Jew on Tuesday. The Torah portion this Shabbat hands me the whole calendar — every appointment, every meeting. Someone was expecting me to show up.

Finding the Joy

Uriel ben Avraham

May 16, 20254 min read