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A Bay Area Jewish healing center expands as it embraces mourning, celebration AriYael Jewish Healing Center has expanded over the past year and hopes to fill a void left when the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center closed. BY LESLIE KATZ APRIL 15, 2025 in JWeekly.com Photo courtesy of J (Aaron Levy-Wolins/J. Staff) On a clear, crisp December morning a month after her 39-year-old husband, Evan, died of cancer, Mikaela Dunitz immersed herself in a Berkeley neighbor’s hot tub as Zoë Francesca Goldblatt recited the Shema, the Shehechiyanu and other prayers with her. Calming music with soulful lyrics played in the background. [...]

A friend of ours, Drew Porter, let us know that his mother was dying and that he was going to Colorado to see her for what was likely the final time.  Following his visit, he sent the following email: I returned to California yesterday after having witnessed a miracle.  I left California two weeks ago to say good-bye to my mom.  I did say good-bye yesterday, but it was followed with, "I'll see you in April."  I have referred to my mom on various occasions as the Energizer Bunny and 'one tough broad.'  She exhibited both in the [...]

The original artwork found throughout the AriYael website was created by Cooky Goldblatt between 2015-2020. Cooky Goldblatt, Artist’s Statement, January 2023: I am deeply engaged with bold, saturated color. Each of my original, digital artworks is a vibrant, abstract statement that is gathered by observing and processing our beautiful and confusing world, in a search for positivity, possibility and sparks of beauty. Each work is a visual improvisation with no set destination. There is instead...potential. I trace my affinity for abstract art to my years as a classical cellist and playing and composing “songs without words,” priming me for exploration without [...]