Ever since visiting the fascinating Italian town of Matera, I’ve wanted a bread stamp. Yes, I’m mad about bread, but I’m also quite keen on the history of this particular pastoral art in this region of Italy.

A week before moving back to the States from Italy, I met the only other Jew of Brindisi at a party. I’d lived there for two years, and just before I left, I found someone with whom I could have celebrated the holidays! Her name was Syd, and she was an American expat who had…

I want to introduce you to three biblical women we hear very little about: Anna, Sarah, and Deborah. No, not the prophetess who blessed Jesus, the wife of Abraham, or the judge of Israel. I’m talking about three women from ancient Jewish literature, The Book of Tobit, which is part of the Catholic canon.