MSI Press Blog

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  Since Sinai  by Shannon Gonyou, which reached #30 in biographies of Judaism.  Since Sinai  has appeared in Amazon best-selling categories nearly every week since its release. Book Description: Raised in a heavily Catholic suburb of Detroit, Michigan, Shannon grew up focusing on two things: how to do enough good deeds to get into heaven and how to stay pure enough to escape hell. In college, she followed many of her peers into an Evangelical church known for guitars, drum, religious-based shame, and the idea that without Jesus she was nothing. But when she encountered Judaism on that same campus, a spark ignited within her and refused to be put out. Judaism felt obvious, familiar. After a falling out with her biological mother and two miscarriages, she found the courage to send the most important email of her life: she asked the local Jews by Choice program to accept her as a student. Honest and unflinching, Shannon's story of comi...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  Since Sinai  by Shannon Gonyou, which reached #30 in biographies of Judaism.  Since Sinai  has appeared in Amazon best-selling categories nearly every week since its release. Book Description: Raised in a heavily Catholic suburb of Detroit, Michigan, Shannon grew up focusing on two things: how to do enough good deeds to get into heaven and how to stay pure enough to escape hell. In college, she followed many of her peers into an Evangelical church known for guitars, drum, religious-based shame, and the idea that without Jesus she was nothing. But when she encountered Judaism on that same campus, a spark ignited within her and refused to be put out. Judaism felt obvious, familiar. After a falling out with her biological mother and two miscarriages, she found the courage to send the most important email of her life: she asked the local Jews by Choice program to accept her as a student. Honest and unflinching, Shannon's story of comi...

  The Seventh Day of Passover: Crossing the Sea to Freedom On the seventh day of Passover, we step back into one of the most dramatic scenes in the story of Exodus: the Crossing of the Red Sea . This is the day when the impossible happened—when a path opened through the sea, and slaves walked into freedom. A Path to Freedom The waters part, and the Israelites cross on dry ground, pursued by Pharaoh’s army—only to see their enemies swept away by the returning waves. The miracle is not just survival; it’s transformation. The people who entered the sea as fugitives emerged as a nation bound by faith and destiny. The Song of the Sea At the shore, Moses and Miriam lead the people in a triumphant song of praise: “The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.” This Shirat HaYam (Song of the Sea) is recited in synagogues on this day, a reminder that gratitude is the truest response to deliverance. A Night of Gratitude Families gather for festive meals, retelli...

  During Chol HaMoed , the middle days of Passover, Jewish life moves into a gentler rhythm — still sacred, but more flexible. Work that’s necessary or joyful (like cooking, travel, or creative projects) is permitted, yet the spirit of liberation remains central. Here’s what typically fills these days: Continued eating of matzah and avoiding chametz (leavened foods). Special prayers in synagogue, including Hallel (songs of praise) and readings from Exodus that recall the journey through the Red Sea. Family outings and community gatherings , often outdoors — a reminder that freedom is meant to be lived, not just remembered. Torah study and reflection , focusing on themes of renewal, gratitude, and moral freedom. In Israel, Chol HaMoed feels like a national holiday — parks, pilgrim sites, and family tables overflow with celebration. In the diaspora, it’s quieter but still luminous: a time to live the Exodus story in daily life. post inspired by Since Sinai  by Shannon...