Blog

Sitting at the Thanksgiving meal, my heart was filled with gratitude.  That’s the not-so-secret gravy of Thanksgiving that transcends any religion yet flows through all Americans. The ability to gather with family and friends over a shared meal is something that all of us can do, and lends itself to the narrative of America as a melting pot. It is rather likely that many have certain traditions associated...Read more...

There is an adage that says that time heals all wounds. I’m not convinced. It might not be the entire scab, but commemorating it is enough to make you re-live the pain. It doesn’t go away. You learn to live with it, integrate it into your being, and either develop skills to cope or hone the ones that you already possess in your toolbox.

Certainly, one of the challenges I...Read more...

There are those who are elated with the results of the election and those who are not. No matter your affinity, there is something that did not change: what God expects of us. Being Jewish starts from the first commandment, that we acknowledge and accept that there is one God, the same God who took our ancestors out of Egypt. At Mt. Sinai, they uttered the immortal words Naaseh V’nishmah,...Read more...

One of the privileges of living in the Northeastern United States is the change of seasons. Each season has its pluses and minuses, to be sure, and the transitions are always full of surprises. One of the most beautiful seasons is certainly the Fall, as the span of colors is so pleasing to the eyes. As the trees cease production of chlorophyll, the true colors of the trees emerge: deep purples and maroons, vibrant...Read more...

I know the look; I’ve seen it before. Many times. Utter sadness. You try to smile, but the muscles just do not cooperate. Many times, over the nearly six years, I have seen that face, and I saw it last night. A communal commemoration of the 10.7 massacre in Israel was held outdoors, and I estimated that approximately 1,000 people attended. One speaker told us of the bravery of her cousin, a soldier in the IDF, who ran towards the shooting,...Read more...