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Articles by Chaya Houpt
The Mitzvah I Swore I’d Never Keep
If you had asked me when I was younger, growing up in a non-observant home, whether I would ever fully cover my hair after marriage, especially with a wig, I would have said, “Absolutely not!” Not, “probably not.” Not, “maybe one day.” Absolutely not. But today, there is no mitzvah that represents my journey to willingly accept the Torah more than covering my hair. Before I got married and became more observant, I associated covering my hair with becoming someone I wasn’t.
Americans in Israel: Don’t forget there’s an election back home
With the holidays in full swing and Israelis already turning their attention to our own upcoming elections, it would be very easy for Americans living here to overlook another election taking place thousands of miles away. The United States holds its midterm elections on November 3, 2026. There is no presidential race this year, but every seat in the US House of Representatives is on the ballot, along with Senate races and, depending on where you vote, state and local contests.
How we treat people is who we are: A tale of two bus drivers
I was riding home on the bus late at night. It was near the end of the route, and the only other passenger, an older Moroccan Jewish woman with a chic bob, sat chatting with the young Arab driver. When we arrived at her stop, she stood slowly and gathered up her large purse and several plastic shopping bags. “Thank you darling,” she said to the driver.
QOSHE - Featured Post - Chaya Houpt
I was riding home on the bus late at night. It was near the end of the route, and the only other passenger, an older Moroccan Jewish woman with a chic bob, sat chatting with the young Arab driver. When we arrived at her stop, she stood slowly and gathered up her large purse and several plastic shopping bags. “Thank you darling,” she said to the driver.
Chaya Houpt, at The Blogs
Load more Chaya Houpt is a writer, sex educator, and activist. She writes about identity and life in Israel at makingthingscomplicated.substack.com. Originally from Arizona, Chaya lives in Jerusalem with her husband and five children.
The Blogs: Not Nothing
I don’t know how to write about the only thing I want to write about. My friend sends me a flyer announcing another Saturday night protest. The bold text calls for urgent action to free the hostages and end the war. “I don’t know if I’ll go,” I tell her. I’ll feel guilty either way. Sunday is the beginning of the week in Israel. I worry that a late night out will make the morning chaotic. I worry that choosing to stay in is an act of selfish apathy. Political action demands time and emotional energy.
The Blogs: Waves and waves of love: An Orthodox ally at Pride
The Jerusalem March for Pride and Tolerance will be held on Thursday, June 5, at Liberty Bell Park (Gan HaPa’amon). As in past years, I will be there with Free Parent Hugs, an organization of volunteers who bring parental warmth and nurturing to the event. We hand out home-baked cookies and nudge participants to put on sunscreen and stay hydrated. As the name suggests, we also give out lots of hugs. I get some curious looks when I attend Pride.
Loving my country means holding it accountable
I was horrified when I heard that the government of Burma was targeting and attacking the Rohingya minority within its borders. When I saw evidence that Israel was continuing to export weapons to Burma amidst an ethnic cleansing campaign, I had to take action. I soon found that there were activists already passionately engaged in this cause, and that it was easy for me to get involved right away. I couldn’t understand, though, why my fellow American olim remained largely uninterested.
Why I interrupted the prime minister at the Bible Quiz
One evening in November, I walked to the Knesset with my 10-year-old twin daughters. We were there to protest Israeli arms sales to Burma, where the government continues a brutal campaign of murder, rape and expulsion of its Rohingya minority. As we approached the site of the demonstration, a security guard stopped us and asked where we were headed.
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