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Marianne Novak

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May 17, 2018, 4:51 PM

The end of firsts

We’ve just completed the holiday of Pesach. Pesach, essentially, is a holiday of memory- we are commanded to remember our redemption from slavery in Egypt. The curious thing about this remembrance is that the commandment in the Torah text-...

Mar 9, 2017, 10:04 PM

Megillat Esther: Two Models to Affect Change

A number of years ago, I taught Megillat Esther to adult students through the Florence Melton School for Adult Jewish Learning. My goal in the class was to improve the students’ text skills and to have them learn to...

Feb 13, 2017, 1:17 AM

Forgiveness: Can you imagine? Thoughts on Parasha Vayechi

One of the many reasons that I love living in Chicago is its top notch theatre scene. This past Tuesday night, I had the opportunity to see the incredible Chicago residence production of ‘Hamilton’ for the the third time....

Feb 8, 2017, 8:46 PM

Groundhog Day and the Jewish People: Thoughts on Parashat Bo

This past week, our country experienced its most silly and confounding rituals---Groundhog Day. You all know how it goes-- the media all converge in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and wait for the Groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, to emerge from his burrow. This...

Oct 11, 2016, 9:49 PM

Your own Holy Space

As some of you might know, as a child I lived in six different communities. My father at the time served many different synagogues as a congregational Rabbi during my childhood before he became a full time academic. The...

Feb 26, 2016, 10:22 PM

G-d coming down the staircase

In the extraordinarily hot summer of 1995, my husband Noam and I moved to Skokie and we bought a home on Doctor Korczak Terrace. Our new street name was a bit unusual, a mouthful to say and had to...

Nov 11, 2015, 9:15 PM

No, Rabbi Student, Professor Lieberman’s Responsum Does NOT Apply

In the recent RCA resolution, Rabbi Gil Student referred to the teshuvah of Prof. Shaul Lieberman of Jewish Theological Seminary when the Conservative Movement was dealing with the issue of women rabbis. Rabbi Student's rationale is that if Prof....

Nov 6, 2015, 3:11 AM

Facts on the Ground for one Maharat Student

This year I was privileged to begin my studies at Yeshivat Maharat. I have been fortunate that I have received a tremendous amount of support in this endeavor from family and friends. My husband is actually jealous that I...

May 21, 2015, 8:36 PM

Shavuot Now: The Way it was Divinely Meant to Be

In season two of the 90’s sitcom Murphy Brown, Murphy, a news show anchor played by Candice Bergen is forced by her stereotypical Jewish producer Miles, played by Grant Shaud, to engage in relaxation exercises to combat the stress...

Apr 21, 2015, 2:01 AM

On Acceptances and Futures–No big deal

This Friday two important pieces of mail arrived in my mailbox. My son received his formal High School acceptance letter and I received my formal acceptance to Yeshivat Maharat. It was somewhat fitting that both pieces of mail arrive...

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About Me

Marianne lives in Skokie, IL with her husband Noam Stadlan. She is an educator for the Melton Adult Education Program and a Gabbait for the Skokie Women's Tefillah Group. Marianne is also a Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutor. I am also a third year student at Yeshivat Maharat.