Today I had the honor of hearing someone speak about a grief that cannot be spoken. A grief so profound, so enduring, so heavy, that words cannot do it justice. So how did I hear her speak about this grief?
Life doesn’t always make sense
This week my synagogue community laid to rest a beloved member of our congregation– Marcia. The last time I saw Marcia wasn’t at Temple, but at Trader Joe’s. I was on my way out with the kids and she was
Things I learned in Arkansas
I just got home from a wonderful weekend serving as an artist and scholar in residence at Congregation B’nai Israel in Little Rock, Arkansas. Here are some things I learned and/or was reminded about myself, Arkansas, and life in general.
Some people
A buddy of mine posted this picture via social media. Louis Armstrong was smart guy and this quote resonates with me. There are some people that if they don’t know, you can’t tell them. To put a positive spin on this we
The art of conversation
I recently had a conversation that felt like pulling teeth. And I would know– both my father and brother are dentists. It was one of the most awkward conversations I’ve had in a long time. Analyzing why the conversation was
First impressions
There’s always more than meets the eye, there’s always another layer, another facet, another dimension to the people in our lives, even those we know best. But at the same time it’s undeniable that sometimes we’re able to understand a
Gratitude list
For today… 1. I didn’t have to bring a coat of any kind to work because it’s finally warming up outside. 2. I got an email from a college friend that led to a back and forth of reconnecting. 3.
13 things I hope people will be able to say about me after I die
13 things I hope people will say about me after I die (and may it be many years from now): I didn’t use templates or conform to genre expectations or worry about what things were supposed to mean. I believed
I want to be able to say God’s name
I was checking my email when the front desk called. There was a young man who wanted to speak with me. Of course, send him back. A 5th grade boy walked into my office, clearly stirred. What’s up? After a
Love without reward
Here’s a quote I found that is attributed (I hope rightly) to the Jewish/French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas: “Faith is not a question of the existence or non-existence of God. It is believing that love without reward is valuable.” Recently I’ve