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  Last week we wrestled with the reality of our living in a predominantly secular world. We took note of the blessing of being part of a faith filled community and cherished even more deeply our relationship with God through the intimacy, the closeness of Yeshua in our... Read More →

  In these days it’s not easy having conversations with others for a variety of reasons. Of course we avoid politics, sometimes even with those who are like minded on other topics, since we can feel frustrated. Such is the lot of a divided society where we can feel... Read More →

  It is undeniable that these are difficult times, micro and macro. I can’t say they’re the worst since our individual lives have their highs and lows, and the cycles of history since the beginning have surely demonstrated this concept to be true. I can say in my not short... Read More →

  In June I shared with you my journey regarding participating in Our Daily Bread’s docuseries “Unshakable Moxie: Women of Resilient Faith”. It was quite the transformation from my complete trepidation when asked almost a year ago, my absolute hesitancy and desire not to do... Read More →

  Sid and I recently saw the movie “Saturday Night” which is the portrayal as if in real time of the one hour and forty-nine minutes leading up to the first broadcast of “Saturday Night Live” on October 11, 1975. I am not recommending it since it well deserves its R rating.... Read More →

  I can’t believe it’s true but I must have started the Daily Dvar program through Ruach two years ago and have completed reading the Bible! The reason I think so is that when I began this past Sunday’s passages the readings were back on Genesis 1, Psalm 1, and Matthew 1. It... Read More →

  These High Holy Days have been transformative. There are so many moments that have contributed to the mountaintop experience that it would take a whole Shabbat encouragement to acknowledge all of them. The services have truly felt anointed.   Now, as we enter these... Read More →

  We are in the most holy days of the year, once again. As predictable as the sunrise and sunset, we are given an even deeper ability than daily to once a year focus on what we can do to live better the blessed lives we’ve been given.   When we think of “teshuvah” we... Read More →

  One of my routine jogs when not at the beach is around the cul-de-sac near our home. It’s a .5 mile loop that is downhill as you start on the top on one side and climb uphill on the return on the other side with ocean views. What’s not to like?   Recently when doing... Read More →

  Who would ever think dealing with kidney stones for the last two months with pain and surgeries could possible have anything good about it? I mean I’ve been thanking God and being grateful for so many other things, but frankly, not for the kidney stones, themselves.  Yes,... Read More →

Perhaps the truest test of my transparency in these writings is admitting that I’ve been a fan of the singer Tom Jones since I was a teenager. I can no longer defend that I like him because my mom did. I like him. Despite the image of him that was created when he was young... Read More →

Our sense of well being comes from being able to feel loved. Ideally such a reality starts when we are babies and continues throughout our lives. Most babies start out being loved unconditionally since they’re so darn cute! (Chava Leah, case in point!) Actually, as babies we are... Read More →

  Last week we noodled about times of challenge in our lives. What are we to learn from them? Why do they happen? Why does God allow these times? Are those even the right questions?   No need to look back on last week’s writing. None of those questions were fully... Read More →

  How do we know when we’re just going through a run of bad luck or we’re feeling it’s something more – those words I don’t like to use but I will – spiritual warfare. We really can’t know for sure, but when negative things seem to be happening all at once or in a short time... Read More →

  Last week we pondered the less obvious ways the process of healing may take place. We saw extreme examples of loving one’s enemy in the story of the Lubetzkys and the superintendent, and Cantor Weisser and the klansman. We were moved by the super whose only reason for... Read More →

  I recently heard an interview with Daniel Lubetzky the founder of the Kind Foundation and many successful ventures including Kind LLC featuring the well known Kind bars. Knowing the story behind this man’s worldview gave me much to ponder about the importance of loving our... Read More →

  Camp Or L’Dor ended on Sunday and in my opinion was the best year yet. The stunning location and welcoming hosts created an inviting place for campers and counselors to feel our Abba’s loving embrace. So many moments of vulnerability, sharing from the heart, healing, acts... Read More →

  Last week we noodled generational wisdom, the importance of leaning on God to inform our actions in raising children and mentoring others. We emphasized that to feel loved, safe, and hopeful, the source is our Abba ministering to each of His children through the Holy... Read More →

  In Maine we don’t have cable TV so our TV watching is very limited (fine with us!) Last evening we were trying to catch the news but due to storm interference, that wasn’t an option.  I was packing for a trip (what else is new?) so was looking for a random distraction... Read More →

  A couple weeks ago I shared with you my experience at a rural church near Portland, ME. There our ukulele group “Ukuleles Heal the World” provided worship music. I remarked on the simplicity of the cross at the front of the church, it being made of two moderately sized... Read More →

  Each day we are presented with possibilities of what to do when. I have to say between working part-time as a lawyer, non-profit passions (especially involving Messianic Judaism and Scripture study), music endeavors, and exercise, I typically have multiple choices.... Read More →

  This week has been bursting with evidences of the breakthroughs in the healing of the Jewish/Christian schism. I say schism based on history, the millennia of anti-Semitism. Even today we cannot deny this challenge of humanity. Perhaps it is the drive to bring us together... Read More →

  These days have been long anticipated, when the crew from Our Daily Bread Ministries would be here to film for Season 2 an episode for their series “Unshakable Moxie”. Feel free to check out Season 1 on YouTube which has already been released.  I won’t share again the many... Read More →

  On Easter weekend this past March, Sid and I were still in Florida. Our home there is on the east coast and our kids and grandson live on the west coast (of Florida). Although we don’t celebrate Easter, we made a plan to drive there to St. Petersburg to enjoy the fun... Read More →

  These have been days of joy, but unusual trial as well. This week held plans of not only travel to and from MA and ME per usual, but also a trip to visit family in Denver, not to mention Sid’s birthday and our anniversary. Lots of pieces needed to fall into place.  ... Read More →

  I have shared with you in the past my hesitation, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy regarding a request to participate in a film series produced by Our Daily Bread highlighting faith stories of “Unshakable Moxie”. Last summer after much prayer and conversation I agreed... Read More →

  Most of you know I’m a glass more than half full person and Sid often sees the glass a little more empty. We are a great combination since with his engineering background he often grounds my unicorn flying on rainbows ideas. Together we do pretty good planning most of the... Read More →

  I recently saw a movie by that title, “One Life”, starring Anthony Hopkins. It is the story of Nicky Winton, a London financial executive, who created and orchestrated by train the rescue of almost 700 Jewish children from Czechoslovakia just prior to Nazi occupation. The... Read More →

  I’m writing this Shabbat encouragement on Mother’s Day as I look at the lake from my bedroom window at Pilgrim Pines. Sid and I are here this weekend for the (hopefully second annual) Ruach Shabbaton. Despite the forecast of rain the weather has been perfect, cool but... Read More →

  What a week. . . What timing for remembrance. . .   As earlier this week we paused to remember the Holocaust on Yom HaShoah, I couldn’t help but think about its perfect timing in these days of unrest centered on the very topic of anti-Semitism.  Our collective memory... Read More →