Earlier this week I had a day marked by deep friendship. In the morning I spoke briefly with a close friend that I’ve known for almost 30 years. As I told him via text, “I need your sage counsel.” He made himself available on short notice, taking time from a family vacation. It was great […]
Relationships
Cup Writing
As a child, Fridays had a special status. Friday was “donut day.” My dad would wake me and my brothers up extra early so we could go to Winchell’s. I can still taste the Cinnamon Crunch donut and still smell my dad’s black coffee. I can feel the warmth of the splash of black coffee […]
A Thunderstorm at the Airport
For reasons that are in their own right moderately intriguing but not exactly germane to the topic at hand I recently ended up spending most of Sunday, July 5th, 2026, in the airport even though I had no flight of my own to catch. Finding myself in the unusual circumstance of being surrounded by travelers […]
We are neighbors
Last night our HOA hosted the annual Halloween party for our neighborhood. 40-50 of us gathered in our clubhouse for a pizza dinner before heading out to trick-or-treat. I don’t know what came over me, but I suddenly felt an irrepressible need to make sure that everyone came together for a moment of…something. After all, […]
We Come Full Circle
We Come Full Circle A circle is opened. Sitting in the circle: People of different faiths, backgrounds, experiences, colors, voices, faces, hopes, fears, loves, names. Singing: to punctuate the silence. Silence: to punctuate the song. Eyes closed: visions unfold. Eyes open: seeing the love between. Together: a healing. A circle is closed.
Jewish Marriage Retreat
3 years ago, my wife, Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus, and her colleague, Rabbi Lydia Medwin, created a marriage retreat through our synagogue, The Temple, in Atlanta, GA. Since both Loren and Lydia are married to rabbis, the 4 of us have led this retreat for the last 3 years. It’s a wonderful experience for us […]