Last month my wife, Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus, and I saw “Beautiful” at the Fox Theatre here in Atlanta. The show captivated me because, like Carol King, I’m a songwriter/composer. The creative tension writing incredibly personal music that is then performed by other people– that’s something I’ve thought a lot about. I’d LOVE to chat […]
People
What We Don’t Know
Consider these cliches when it comes to knowledge: “What we don’t know won’t hurt us/ can’t kill us.” “We don’t know what we don’t know.” I’m sure there are others. But recently I found myself contemplating the human condition (yes, actually contemplating the human condition) and I realized something that I’m sure many other […]
An Optimist’s Thoughts on Istanbul (and all the rest of it)
I hope this doesn’t come across as tone deaf or dismissive. My heart breaks for Istanbul and the rest of this seemingly absurd universe. The innocent dead and wounded, the diameter of the bomb(s). There’s really nothing that can be said, done, or prayed on to restore what has been destroyed. But I’m something of […]
Merrick Garland’s Supreme Court Nomination Acceptance Speech
I happened to be in my car when President Obama announced that Merrick Garland was his nominee to the Supreme Court. Purely by coincidence I heard Garland’s acceptance speech which tells the immigration story of his family as well as explains how his parents instilled values in him and his sisters. Setting politics aside, the […]
The Imaginary Finish Line
I know lots of people, myself included, who like being able to check things off lists. It’s not surprising that we like to get things done. Getting things done, reaching the finish line, brings a sense of satisfaction, closure, and completion. It also allows us to move on to new projects and to clear up […]
Happy Pi Day: Circles and Pyramids
Recently I found myself sitting in a circle with a group of strangers. It was at a Jewish gathering. Jews love to sit in circles. We’re not the only ones. I think people like to sit in circles because circles physically represent a vision of community and human interaction. If you’re inside the circle, […]