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This week Sid and I attended a one woman play created and performed by Sid’s daughter Ruby Rose Fox. It was a creative way to release her newest album “SALT”. At the event I sat between Sid and his ex-wife Betsy, and suffice it to say, historically such times together... Read More →

I have an annoying feature on my IPhone which I will figure out how to remove. When a CNN news update comes in, the tone is the same as for a message from a friend. Each morning the daily CNN report makes this seemingly welcome sound to bring me what news it thinks I should know.... Read More →

This week I drove by such a sad sight – a mother opossum had been hit by a car and was still lying dead in the road. Her arms were frozen in a position outstretched toward the side of the road where as I passed, my glance saw a very small matching fur body lying still, most... Read More →

Recently I caught a part of a radio show on NPR on the topic, “Now that we have evolved so far, do we still need God?” Although I knew I would not agree with the likely premise that we don’t, the panel consisted of both sides of the discussion, so I was a bit intrigued. Of... Read More →

We live in such a disposable society. That concept is great when referring to using biodegradable products and recycling. It bothers me, however, in the context of how we tend to keep buying and replacing our things rather than recognizing the beauty of reusing and sharing with... Read More →

I recently read an article on aish.com called “5 Signs You Need to Take a Fresh Look at Judaism.” The points were well presented and intriguing to me as I am Jewish but curious where I would stand now that I am a Messianic Jew. Although all of the issues raised were relevant and... Read More →

I recently had my annual physical and was surprised to find the parking lot so empty. For 15 years whenever I would come to that appointment it was impossible to find a parking spot without waiting and circling the area. So where was everybody? Did a business that was in the... Read More →

As you know I’ve recently been struggling with daughter issues, always the more poignant as Mother’s Day approaches. On my jog this morning on the beach, my prayer time with HaShem, I was asking Him to meet her where she is. I was asking Him to reveal Himself to her in a way she... Read More →

Last weekend my synagogue sponsored an amazing healing prayer conference. What a blessing! One of the points made by the presenter Judith MacNutt was that there are two types of trauma that affect our physical health, one being the obvious kind such as physical abuse, the other... Read More →

As some of you know, Sid and I have a Winnebago RV we affectionately call the Pugabego in honor of the three pugs we loved to travel with when we bought it ten years ago. Last weekend we had the joy of driving it to see grandbaby and our kids down in New York. Given winter’s... Read More →

We use that term all the time. It doesn’t need a definition. We feel we pray and don’t need reminders. But how do we keep it fresh? I work with someone who is an Orthodox Jew and prays religiously (pun intended) 3 times a day. He closes his office door and with deliberation... Read More →

Every spring is a time when we typically focus on rebirth as the season brings new life in so many ways. We only have to open our eyes to see nature at work to bring back to life all that has been dormant over the winter. This year it has been no secret that for many of us this... Read More →

“Passover” – the word brings to mind the amazing saving of our people as the Angel of Death passed over the first born of the Israelites, not sparing those of the Egyptians. It was a seminal moment for our people, so defining that we are to relive it annually, viscerally, as we... Read More →

Sid and I returned this week from a little winter break in Florida. It was great, no doubt. While we were there, we were in the moment and enjoyed being with family and friends and attending the local Messianic Jewish services as well. Yet when we came home, we felt the special... Read More →

The State of the Union address reminded us of what a divided society we are, such different reactions to the same speech. Yet no one person divides us, but rather, people in our lives can bring out our better or less admirable instincts. Sid and I are heading back from a... Read More →

Many of you may have watched the State of the Union address earlier this week. Some of you were encouraged. Some of you couldn’t wait for the fact checkers to do their work. Some of you didn’t really care or are not that interested in such events. Or . . . Much of... Read More →

I couldn’t help but be sickened as I watched Larry Nassar’s words of apology at his sentencing hearing this week. He so clearly was just reading words written by his lawyer. His demeanor was emotionless as he mouthed regret for his actions in abusing so many young... Read More →

I recently watched “Frozen”. (Spoiler alert – stop reading if you haven’t seen this wonderful film.) At the end, we and the little sister in the story learn that the act of true love that will save her, and her sister, and the kingdom, is her own act of... Read More →

Last weekend I planned to take the train from our home in Maine to Needham so I could be at Ruach for Shabbat services. It was right after the recent blizzard so I added some extra travel time to get to the Brunswick train station, our closest stop. Unfortunately, the streets... Read More →

As I sit here cozily enjoying the warmth of our bedroom fireplace awaiting the arrival of the blizzard, the frosted windows remind me of the tension and barriers in our lives between the haves and the have-nots. Yes, I’m warm inside today, but so many aren’t. And what... Read More →

This week I had dental surgery as a result of an injury from high school. Since so much time had gone by since the original treatment, and the surgery involved my jawbone as well as gums, it was an unknown beforehand as to the complexity that would be involved. It was possible I... Read More →

Earlier this year I shared with you that my work had diminished and that it would be interesting to see how the rest of the year played out. Well, the year is coming to a close and how it went was that work came in in spurts, maybe averaging 5 hours a week or less. The further... Read More →

As I was sitting here doing my nails, my IPhone sounded the receipt of an incoming email. Could that be from a client in response to an email I had just sent which caused me a bit of angst since I had just notified them of a potential problem needing attention? Or could it be a... Read More →

This morning I realized I missed the Pentatonix Christmas Special. I was really bummed since I had watched it last year and was so moved. . . In case you’re not familiar with the group, they are an astoundingly wonderful a capella group and I highly recommend you check them... Read More →

As we join with family and friends today for Thanksgiving, I have been reflecting on all that I have to be thankful for. And I realized that the “I” in that sentence just doesn’t fit. I realized that I am so much a part of my Ruach community that most of what I am thankful for,... Read More →

I recently caught the ending of the Menendez brothers’ story being shown as a TV series detailing the brutal murders of their parents by the young men in 1989. I had caught bits and pieces over the last couple months and just the very end of the last episode, so I... 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 →

Someone recently asked me if I would write a song based on Psalm 23: 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though... Read More →

I have just returned from back-to-back weekly travel so was unable to have those quiet moments when I feel inspired to write a Shabbat encouragement. So I wasn’t planning to, until this morning, when I guess there were other plans at work. . . As I took my morning jog, a... Read More →

Sid and I recently watched “Lion”, a wonderful film based on the true story of a boy from India who gets lost at a very young age, adopted by parents in Tasmania, and ultimately reunited with his mother. If you haven’t seen the movie, you may want to wait to... Read More →