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What more can be said about the tragic shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh? All the truisms are there. These peoples’ and our lives are forever changed. Words of division must end. Greater vigilance is needed. Life is unpredictable and can change on a dime.... Read More →

In the past several weeks we have been unable to avoid, and be drawn into, reports concerning the missing Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The story has unfolded with differing accounts of what happened. What is the truth? Although the stories keep changing about what... Read More →

Below is an updated version of an encouragement sent last fall. . . 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... Read More →

Earlier this week I caught on the evening news a delightful story. A motorist had hit a squirrel and apparently the little critter had glanced off of the tire rather than run underneath it (thankfully!) The coverage was from a policeman’s body cam video of the driver giving chest... Read More →

Sid and I went tent camping this week with my sister Wendy and her husband David at Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. We actually discovered this place some years back when Sid and I would take the Camp Or L’Dor teens there for their outdoor adventure. Although we don’t... Read More →

This week I discovered a movie that I highly recommend – “Victoria and Abdul” starring Judy Dench and Ali Fazel. The story follows closely a well researched book Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen’s Closest Confidant by Shrabani Basu which describes the highly... Read More →

Each week I really don’t know what I’m going to share with you as a word of encouragement until it happens. There is usually a pivotal experience that occurs that guides me as to what the message is to be. This week, however, the most striking event that I knew was to occur did... Read More →

How do people do it? How do they survive with any essence of joy or peace in life without being part of a God-centered, Yeshua-centered, community? For those of you who do not have this option in the flesh, I understand and know that even virtual community counts. But for those... Read More →

Dedicated to our dear friend Annette Salinger who left this realm earlier this week and now I’m sure is resting peacefully in Messiah’s arms. “Friends” – Of course you remember the iconic sitcom of that name about a group of guys and gals living in close proximity and their many... Read More →

Despite the heat this morning, I forced myself to at least try to jog, or walk, in order to have my special time with HaShem, of course while listening to spiritually uplifting music. As I passed the abandoned original lobsterman’s tiny home up the street where the most recent... Read More →

This week brought together for me two very extreme events, one completely joyful and the other terribly challenging. . . I’m writing this from Denver where I’m visiting my second granddaughter, teeny Gray, who arrived unexpectedly quite early but is doing fine. Not only can I... Read More →

Last week I shared with you the amazing time we are having this year at Camp Poyntelle, a camp in PA for Jewish youngsters and teens. We have been made to feel so welcome. Since we are renters and the camp rents to other non Jewish groups, it would be premature to say we are... Read More →

Perhaps participating in Camp Or L’Dor is HaShem’s way to show me His workings in the big picture of where our movement is going. We so often get caught up in the day-to-day that it’s at this annual event that I can see so clearly His Hand at work, not just in... Read More →

Hello my loved ones, I am en route to the 10th blessed year of Camp Or L’Dor, the Messianic Jewish outdoor adventure camp founded by my husband Sid and Rabbi Nathan. In addition to this week my becoming a grandma for the second time (over the moon happy!), travel and then some... Read More →

I just returned from the most amazing, inspiring UMJC conference I have yet to attend in my 15 year history of participating in this event. Each year the national meeting of our Messianic Jewish organizations and followers is a gem. But this year it was even more special. I have... Read More →

Last week we unpacked the observance that historically, some Jewish people have chosen to hide their identities in order to fit in. As we looked at The Barry Sisters, they did so to help them succeed in their careers. We thought about those who converted to Christianity to save... Read More →

Over the Fourth of July holiday I was able to spend some precious time with my sister. One evening we slipped away from the raunchy Comedy Central programming on the upstairs TV and took a step back in time downstairs to watch the Decades channel which was airing a 1966 episode... Read More →

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 →