By

Last week I was blessed to be able to attend the Borough Park Symposium in NYC. This conference is an academic gathering of Jews, including Messianic Jews who organize this event, to explore issues related to Yeshua, Messianic Judaism, Israel, and related subjects. This year’s... Read More →

Last year when Sid and I came to Florida, we arrived the day after my aunt died. Although I was emotionally crushed, it was a blessing to be here at that time to help take care of my then 91 year old uncle and my cousin as she tried to understand the probate process. I balanced... Read More →

This week, my cousin shared with me her feelings of terror during her radiation treatment. She suffers from extreme claustrophobia, so much so that she cannot even ride on elevators. So when the radiation treatment room door closes automatically, she has panic attacks. The... Read More →

We’re off to Florida! So many plans including creating a havurah while we’re there with local Florida family and loved ones from Ruach who will be visiting. Although I will miss my Ruach community while away, the thought of some of them being in the area to worship together as I... Read More →

To those of you who have been on my list for awhile, you may recognize this message from three years ago. I am resending it as a reminder and to those who have joined since then, it will be just slightly anachronistic. I felt it important to send this on the heels of last week’s... Read More →

I recently ran across a heartwarming story which, when I read it, seemed to be clear and unambiguous in the truth of its message. Here it is: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/stories.cgi?record=138 In today’s world of troublesome headlines and distressing news, I found this... Read More →

Last week we thought about how our own filters define our perceptions, how often our own fears hold us back from new thoughts and opportunities. We get a certain impression about a situation, how a negative result may happen, and lose our confidence about trying to make a better... Read More →

Although I love my times with HaShem on the beach, a close second is jogging on a sunny winter day without wind or messy precipitation. Such was today’s gift as I headed out to have some quiet time after all the holiday celebrations. I had just texted with some of my spiritual... Read More →

Last week we riffed on the phrase “Tis the season” and were reminded of its many meanings and applications to our lives. We were encouraged to renew our spiritual focus and to love each other as He loves us. Shortly after I wrote that Shabbat encouragement I was involved in... Read More →

At this time of year when surrounded by festive lights and reminders of Christmas, we often hear the expression, “’Tis the season!” Although used in the 19th century previous to the well known Christmas carol “Deck the Halls”, that song popularized the expression which has come... Read More →

As most of you know, Sid and I live in Maine so we travel 2 ½ hours most every weekend to be part of our Ruach community. We have been doing this now for almost 10 years. My friends and neighbors here in Maine cannot imagine why we go to such great lengths literally since we are... Read More →

Today the Nor’Easter is hitting us hard. From my window as I watch the strong north wind blowing the snow literally horizontally with its force, in the same view, I see the cozy fire in our bedroom fireplace, its hearth decorated with my Chanukah stocking woven with a pattern of... Read More →

No, I don’t even like beer. But the expression is apt to remind us to be grateful for our lives. Wednesday is a long awaited day with no commitments. And the agenda is a lot of housework, cleaning and laundry, sorting and paying bills. It’s not important how the... Read More →

At this very moment a terrifyingly loud toddler is digging his or her shoes into the back of my seat on my flight from Los Angeles to Denver while the wee one alternates between ear piercing shrieking and crying. I’m a grandma. I love little ones. I can even relate to the poor... Read More →

I was recently chatting with a friend who runs a house cleaning service. As she was describing her hectic schedule and tiring days, she stated that hers is a thankless job. I reacted, “No, it’s not! When a person comes home to a clean home, it’s such a great feeling.” She could... Read More →

Sid and I had the opportunity this week to attend a two day event sponsored by Colby College’s Center for Small Town Jewish Life, an initiative to bring Jews in Maine together. Since the whole state only has just over a million people in total population, you can imagine how... Read More →

Last week we gained deeper insight into how our Jewish brothers and sisters often perceive Yeshua, an exercise to better understand how our discussions about Him are heard. It is helpful to be reminded when talking to Jewish people that they are still wounded by history and... Read More →

As most of you know, my passion is to interface with my Jewish brothers and sisters and educate them as to the truth of Yeshua. I may have a somewhat different bent on this than do others since I feel my role is to do just that – educate – rather than necessarily succeed in... Read More →

Last week I shared with you a way to ameliorate stress by not going down the bunny trail of darkness, evaluating all the “what ifs” that could happen over which we have no control. This week, however, our Abba has provided me with a new twist on another way to look at that rabbit... Read More →

Most of you know I’m a glass more than half full person and Sid often sees the lesser part. We are a great combination since with his engineering background he often grounds my rainbow in the sky ideas. Together we do pretty good planning most of the time, knowing the best... Read More →

Aren’t the fall colors amazing? I just recently learned that the orange and yellow colors of our fall foliage are the result of carotenoids which are in the leaf throughout the growing season. The reason the leaf looks green until fall, however, is that chlorophyll is... Read More →

I remember vividly a conversation I had with my father over 30 years ago. He was feeling depressed and at a crossroads in his life. During the several months before our conversation, an inordinate number of his close acquaintances were literally dying unnaturally early deaths.... Read More →

This past week was a bit of a nail biter for us. Sid and I have a small place in Florida and it was for several days in the “Cone of Uncertainty” regarding Hurricane Dorian. As we ultimately escaped its wrath, it was only a bittersweet sigh of relief as I heard more of the... Read More →

As most of you know, often the subject matter of these Shabbat encouragements comes while I take my morning jog. I find that I can be on the same path I’ve taken so many times before, and yet, as I commune with my Abba, He will let me see something in a new way, with new eyes,... Read More →

This past weekend I was blessed to have my sister and her family up to our home in Maine to celebrate my nephew’s birthday. It was such a wonderful time together with great weather, great food, great times just to hang and relax. One morning we broke into groups, some of us... Read More →

It is such a blessing to be able to volunteer my time at Camp Or L’Dor. Over the years the younger leaders have taken on some of the many roles I have previously held and now, as Sid says, we are the Bobbe and Zayde, Grandma and Grandpa, of the camp. That is only partly true,... Read More →

How do I not think about the mass shootings in Texas and Ohio? How do I integrate the beauty I am experiencing this week at Camp Or L’Dor with the heartbreaking headlines? Last week I shared with you how in an every day conversation my passion for this amazing endeavor welled up... Read More →

Sid and I have been very busy this summer. It has been a combination of many wonderful family events as well as travel for conferences and some work. We have been Airbnbing our home quite a bit for the times we are away which adds an additional layer of work and lack of order as... Read More →

On my morning jog a young, healthy, green leaf fell unexpectedly in front of me crossing my path. It is only July and all the leaves are still lush and green. It struck me as odd that this single leaf, on a calm day, would be felled to die not in the usual cycle of autumn. Its... Read More →

Last week I shared with you my recent experience at an Orthodox Jewish wedding of a non observant Jewish couple. I was struck by the chesed, kindness, of the officiating rabbis who were able to balance their sensibilities for those present without compromising their core values... Read More →