The J-Weekly ran an article, The State of Our Shuls, that I found inflammatory. It pushed lots of the usual fear buttons. I’m against fear so I wrote a reply.
Read More »A meaningful life
Finding Your Own Way
Recently I was with a couple of women, each of whom is married to a non-Jewish man. The first, I’ll call her Lisa, expressed her opinions with great intensity. She had strong beliefs on how to deal with an interfaith marriage, what to do, how to act, what to teach your children, how to…
Read More »Tisha B’Av: Mourning the Destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem
When we look at this photograph of a relief on the Arch of Titus celebrating his siege and destruction of Jerusalem, that historical event can feel as old and foreign as the stones depicting it. Yet for Jews the idea of ‘never forget’ is not a new one. Jews remember the events of the past,…
Read More »Laws & Customs of Tisha B’Av
Laws and Customs of the three Weeks, the Nine Days & Tisha B’Av The 17th of Tammuz, commemorating the fall of Jerusalem prior to the destruction of the Temple, marks the beginning of a 3 week national period of mourning culminating with the 9th of Av. The five events which we mourn on the 17th…
Read More »Finding Some Quietude in the Summer
I saw an article titled, “How to Prepare Your Kids for Summer.” Wow, whose kids are these? Are they from Mars and unaccustomed to our atmosphere? The way my kids prepare for summer is with whoops and hollers. Summer is utter freedom, no homework, sleep late and dig for emeralds in the backyard. Yes,…
Read More »Father’s Day
Sunday is Father’s Day. A day to be grateful for all the guys in our lives who are, or function as, our dads. Dads, in case you didn’t think you were so important compared to moms, here’s little ego booster: In her book, Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg says, “Children with involved and loving fathers have…
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