Meg Keene

Oakland, United States

Founder and Editor-in-chief at A Practical Wedding

Articles

For this I became a Jew? Yes, for exactly this.

2 weeks ago | jewishvoicesnj.org | Meg Keene

In keeping with Jewish tradition that makes no differentiation between those who are born Jews and those who become them, I rarely talk about being a convert. But in light of the antisemitic attacks in America over the last several weeks, and as we celebrated Shavuot, a holiday honoring a convert, I wanted to break that silence. My beit din–the rabbinic court that signed off on my conversion–was exactly 16 years minus a month ago.
For this I became a Jew? Yes, for exactly this I became a Jew.

3 weeks ago | jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com | Meg Keene

In keeping with Jewish tradition that makes no differentiation between those who are born Jews and those who become them, I rarely talk about being a convert. But in light of the antisemitic attacks in America over the last two weeks, and as we celebrated Shavuot, a holiday honoring a convert, I wanted to break that silence. My beit din — the rabbinic court that signed off on my conversion — was exactly 16 years minus a month ago.
For this I became a Jew? Yes, for exactly this I became a Jew.

3 weeks ago | jta.org | Meg Keene

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... In keeping with Jewish tradition that makes no differentiation between those who are born Jews and those who become them, I rarely talk about being a convert. But in light of the antisemitic attacks in America over the last two weeks, and as we celebrated Shavuot, a holiday honoring a convert, I wanted to break that silence. My beit din — the rabbinic court that signed off on my conversion — was exactly 16 years minus a month ago.
We Couldn’t Save the Bibas Boys, but We Can Still Choose Life

Feb 28, 2025 | jewishexponent.com | Meg Keene

By Meg KeeneFor Jews, the world has stilled. In Israel the streets are lined with people holding flags and orange balloons, holding each other. In the diaspora we hold our breath, staring at our screens, frozen. The endless conversations I have with other Jewish mothers, the connection and community that keeps us buzzing behind the scenes of raising children and running our careers and caring for our families — today it’s silenced. WhatsApp, text threads, DMs: empty. Baruch Dayan HaEmet.
We can still choose life

Feb 26, 2025 | omahajewishpress.com | Meg Keene

JTAThis piece has been updated to reflect Israel’s announcement that Hamas did not return the body of Shiri Bibas. For Jews, the world has stilled. In Israel the streets are lined with people holding flags and orange balloons, holding each other. In the diaspora we hold our breath, staring at our screens, frozen.
We couldn't save the Bibas boys, but we can still choose life

Feb 20, 2025 | jta.org | Meg Keene

For Jews, the world has stilled. In Israel the streets are lined with people holding flags and orange balloons, holding each other. In the diaspora we hold our breath, staring at our screens, frozen. The endless conversations I have with other Jewish mothers, the connection and community that keeps us buzzing behind the scenes of raising children and running our careers and caring for our families — today it’s silenced. WhatsApp, text threads, DMs: empty. Baruch dayan emet.
From Rachel Goldberg-Polin, we all heard the piercing cry of Jewish motherhood

Sep 5, 2024 | jewishjournal.org | Meg Keene

Late Saturday night, after Shabbat was over, my texts lit up with messages from other Jewish mothers. Like every night for the past 330 days, we were all holding each other up. A grieving mass of women, bodies that brought Jewish souls to earth. My messages were from Australia, Israel and New Jersey, from Los Angeles and nearby in Berkeley. They said one thing, over and over:Hersh. Hersh. Hersh. As more news broke the names piled up:Eden, Eden, Eden. Carmel, Carmel, Carmel. Almog, Almog, Almog.
From Rachel Goldberg-Polin, we all heard the piercing cry of Jewish motherhood

Sep 3, 2024 | jewishaz.com | Meg Keene

(JTA) — Late Saturday night, after Shabbat was over, my texts lit up with messages from other Jewish mothers. Like every night for the past 330 days, we were all holding each other up. A grieving mass of women, bodies that brought Jewish souls to earth. My messages were from Australia, Israel and New Jersey, from Los Angeles and nearby in Berkeley. They said one thing, over and over:Hersh. Hersh. Hersh. As more news broke the names piled up:Eden, Eden, Eden. Carmel, Carmel, Carmel. Almog, Almog, Almog.
From Rachel Goldberg-Polin, we all heard the piercing cry of Jewish motherhood

Sep 1, 2024 | newsbreak.com | Meg Keene

Late Saturday night, after Shabbat was over, my texts lit up with messages from other Jewish mothers. Like every night for the past 330 days, we were all holding each other up. A grieving mass of women, bodies that brought Jewish souls to earth. My messages were from Australia, Israel and New Jersey, from Los Angeles and nearby in Berkeley. They said one thing, over and over: As more news broke the names piled up: Eden, Eden, Eden. Carmel, Carmel, Carmel. Almog, Almog, Almog. Alex, Alex, Alex.
From Rachel Goldberg-Polin, we all heard the piercing cry of Jewish motherhood

Sep 1, 2024 | flipboard.com | Meg Keene

From Rachel Goldberg-Polin, we all heard the piercing cry of Jewish motherhood(JTA) — Late Saturday night, after Shabbat was over, my texts lit up with messages from other Jewish mothers. Like every night for the past 330 days, …