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This month of Elul before the High Holy days is a time of preparation to address the ways we can be better creations, a time to address our failings and transgressions, a time to return to Him more centered as the new year begins. As I was immersing in those thoughts while... Read More →

Sid and I used Airbnb this summer to rent out our home in ME while we were at camp. It was a great experience and as HaShem provides, we earned almost to the dollar the amount we needed to have our house painted. Since Airbnb provides some sense of security regarding the... Read More →

As you know, Sid and I recently returned from Camp Or L’Dor. Since the location this year was so far away, we were gone for almost all of August. As a result, unfortunately, our home group seemed to languish. And as September is rolling in, I have some business travel... Read More →

My sister’s family dog Toby passed on recently. He was a basset hound and brought with him many funny stories as his appearance might suggest. Toby was something else. He could cause more mischief, mayhem, and mishaps, than any of our other family canines combined. He... Read More →

As you can already tell, Camp Or L’Dor this year was a huge success. The group of young people were exceptionally inspirational to all of us and there seemed to be amazing emotional and spiritual growth by most of the campers. One of our events was Israel Day. There was a... Read More →

Last week I shared with you my first day at camp and the “random” timing of meeting the rabbi here as we were about to go to our first activity. It didn’t take long for HaShem to answer my pondering. . . The very next morning I went to one of the common... Read More →

Last week I observed that kindness also includes letting less patient drivers ahead of you in traffic. Interestingly, the responses I received in large part felt that that was just a little bit too kind. In other words, many felt that it wasn’t right to allow the... Read More →

Lots was on my plate last week so when my son and his wife spontaneously invited me on Sunday afternoon to come down to see first grandchild Brightly, I jumped on it! Unfortunately, Sid had to report to jury duty the next day so it was me solo for the three-plus hour drive from... Read More →

My adult daughter is emotionally fragile. Life for her, and therefore for us, can be challenging. Recently she went through a time where we didn’t know where she was. Thankfully she is getting the care she needs. But in the course of this episode, Sid and I needed to attend... Read More →

The death of Elie Wiesel this week brought the world a step closer to the possibility of fogetting the Holocaust. We live in a time so many years removed from the actual event that it no longer is part of our consciousness and is at risk of slipping from our subconscious. Even I... Read More →

Last week we watched the following video reminding us that when we focus on our blessings, they shape our view of the world and remind us of HaShem’s presence. Link to the video: https://youtu.be/JjAH_riF6K8 Do you imagine the butterfly soaring through the woods in fear of... Read More →

Sid and I recently took an RV trip to Canada’s Campobello Island, FDR’s summer home. It’s a great place to explore and see new things.   One morning as we were eating breakfast and admiring the view, a very small butterfly landed on the window screen. I love... Read More →

  “In psychology, cognitive dissonance is the mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time, performs an action that is contradictory to one or more beliefs, ideas, or values, or... Read More →

  How much do you value it? Life? It is easy in today’s world to become desensitized to the preciousness of every living creation. I actually worry about our young people and what has been their world via media and social media. My youngest sister had only the choice of... Read More →

Most of us are aware of the tragedy that occurred at the Cincinnati Zoo last weekend. A small child strayed from his mother and accidentally ended up in the gorilla exhibit. Although at first it looked as if the boy was being protected by the gorilla, Harambe also acted erratic... Read More →

  Several years back I was invited by my sister to Girly Weekend. This was an annual trip started by her best friend and another friend who were the core of the group. I really didn’t want to go but my sister played the sister card, “I won’t go unless you... Read More →

The Hebrew term lashon hara (or loshon hora) (Hebrew לשון הרע; “evil tongue”) is repeating something about someone that was not meant to be made public. And as its translation suggests, I truly believe it is straight from the devil. The negative forces created by... Read More →

Although I try to keep the inspirations for these Shabbat encouragements anonymous, members of our Ruach community will probably figure this one out, as will the inspirers. However, it was too good to let it go. . .   Last week at 8:30 on a week night 15 Ruachites were blessed to... Read More →

  What’s in your head? Do you ever find the time to block out distractions and listen to your thoughts? For most of us our thoughts are so many and often racing that we can feel very anxious when we listen to all that’s buzzing around up there. Quieting our minds is... Read More →

  I don’t like to dwell on this but it’s hard to ignore the negativity in our lives and in our world. Often it feels like these seasons of challenge come in waves. They may happen inexplicably just to make them seem even more scary and to make us feel more powerless.... Read More →

  I am a strong believer in our Abba’s sprinkling clues throughout our lives that lead us to the path He wants for us. The challenge is that we more often than not don’t notice them. Part of our life’s journey is to become more aware of these moments, for... Read More →

  I work with a number of Jewish lawyers and one in particular is very frum (observant). So much so that he in his Orthdox community has the honor of attending to the dead and leads services in his Orthodox shul.   So needless to say over the years he and I have had... Read More →

  It’s that time of year. Yards are getting attention, houses are being decluttered, cleaned, given new looks. This week as I passed an old deck being replaced by a new one at a neighbor’s house, it was remarkable how that fresh lumber against the shingles made the... Read More →

  At a recent Ruach board meeting Rabbi Rich shared his experience earlier this week of presiding at the brit milah (bris) of his new grandson. In addition to its obvious emotionally moving and religiously significant aspects, the ritual struck another deep chord. It... Read More →

  Jogging in 50 degree weather on a New England winter day? This was quite the mild winter despite our spring snow day. Rounding a local street recently on my run I stopped to chat with a tree trimmer working in just a flannel shirt and jeans, eyes shaded with sunglasses because... Read More →

  We are living in a time of growing hints of the return of our Messiah. One such awe inspiring event is soon to be upon us.   A recent news article titled “Biblical Nomads Will Return to the Holy Land” caught my eye. It described the Jacob sheep, a “speckled... Read More →

  Scenario 1:   A loved one hurts you. It could be a family relationship – sister/brother, parent/child, husband/wife – or close friendship. Time goes by. The disagreements end but there are not many conversations with each other. You end up in social situations... Read More →

  Well, this seems to be a season of travel. Sid and I had planned a couple winter getaways but what was unplanned were the three business trips in a row that filled the weeks in between. Although I could make it to Ruach on most Shabbats, it still seems like I’ve been... Read More →

  I recently watched and highly recommend American Masterpieces’ episode featuring Carole King which aired on PBS last week. Carole King was a popular musical artist during my formative years, but I had no idea until I watched the show what a prolific songwriter she was as... Read More →

  Can you imagine being in a room with another person and totally ignoring him or her? What if that person had made a special point to see you, be with you, and you were just oblivious? Or what if that person is someone you are in relationship with but you just take him or her... Read More →