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  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 →

Divi-Divi trees are the signature tree of Aruba. They are everywhere, and characteristic in their appearance with extremely swept branches bending to the southwest due to the constant strong sea breezes from the northeast. On one of our hikes to the top of a lookout point, one of... Read More →

  Jogging on the beach today presented yet another insight into HaShem’s teachings. It amazes me how many lessons can come from the same path each day. . . How our eyes become more open to His daily teachings. . .   As I was prayer-jogging, I was struck by the beauty of... Read More →

  Today is the Monday after the big weekend blizzard. After such storms, and hurricanes in the fall, the ocean waves are spectacular. So I was looking forward to my jog on the beach near our home.   Oh, I was not disappointed. The jellyfish-like ice pieces were fewer and more... Read More →

Listening to the harsh winds blow as I write this, I am reminded of the struggle it is to stay centered, to maintain inner sholom, to feel His presence. . . We all have those times when life seems easy, well at least things are going pretty well. But sometimes more often, if we... Read More →

  I love this time of year. It’s especially great when Hanukkah and Christmas overlap but even this year, when Hanukkah was so early, the Christmas holiday is often when extended family get together. Nieces and nephews are home from college, family members travel to be near... Read More →

On a flight recently I read an interesting statistic: less than 5% of the world’s population have ever flown in an airplane. Hard to believe, isn’t it? Especially when you think how routine flying is to most of us and even to our children. We live in such a privileged society, so... Read More →

Last week I shared with you some thoughts regarding loss. What was interesting about that message, in addition to its content, was how it came to be written. Normally each week’s Shabbat encouragement is a result of thoughts that come to me when I deliberately make time for... Read More →

Think of the worst thing that has ever happened to you. Perhaps it was the premature death of a loved one or a miscarriage. Perhaps the end of a marriage, loss of a deep relationship, bankruptcy or extreme financial failure, job or career loss. It may be diagnosis of a... Read More →