All of a sudden it’s a new day. I guess it’s obvious but you only have one date of death. Quickly time starts to accumulate. Today my daughter got a napkin and wiped tears from my wife’s eyes. Then she
Death
My wife was out running the Peachtree Rod Race. And making good time. My phone rang. It was my mother in law. She rarely calls me directly. I answered the phone and she told me through her tears that Jim,
Letting Go
My daughter recently turned 6. She was excited to turn 6. She loved being 5. She’s already thinking about being 7. It’s clear that she views her turning 6 as a major milestone and life accomplishment. It’s also clear that
Remind
The deepest truths of human experience and reality can’t be taught. They can’t be acquired. Uploaded. Downloaded. Inputed. Scanned. Computed. Etc. They’re already there, in the inmost place where things sometimes find themselves forgotten, disregarded, shunned, or otherwise put out of
Everyday holiness
There’s long been a distinction in Judaism between “Kodesh” (“Holy”) and “Chol” (“Profane/Mundane”). In fact, the Havdalah Service at the end of Shabbat includes a blessing that thanks God for distinguishing between these two different states- Kodesh and Chol. The
Hiking on Hardtimes
While enjoying our stroll through the woods outside of Asheville I had a chance to reflect on the activity of hiking. Specifically, I had a chance to reflect on the different ways that people choose to journey through the woods
Fearless
I don’t want to be fearless. I think it’s good that my 3 year old son gets scared when the table at our local hibachi restaurant spontaneously bursts into flames as the chef puts on his culinary show. I
A Blessing for Grandparents Day
Dear God, Source of life, source of blessing, source of miracles. We thank you for granting us the ability to witness and experience miracles. The miracles of love and family, of children and grandchildren, of a chain of tradition that
Then and now
today I found myself praying in the chapel that I prayed in as a rabbinical student. Sitting among the rabbinical students and professors I found myself overcome with emotion i thought about their voices and the voices that filled this
Surrounded by Teachers
The person you most admire. Your teacher. The person you most despise. Your teacher. The person you love with all your heart. Your teacher. The person who drives you crazy. Your teacher. The person you pass by daily without ever