For the past thousands of years, at every traditional Jewish wedding, as the bride and groom stand under the Chupah blissfully in love and gazing adoringly at each other, the Rabbi (or other distinguished guest) makes seven special blessings in honor of the new couple. One of them goes as follows: “Bring great joy to […]
The words parents hate to hear…”But Ma, all the other kids have it!” (Spoken in an appropriately whining, nagging tone.) Parents hate to hear it because it is so effective. We can’t seem to say “no.” But it’s ultimately to our child’s, and society’s, detriment. This week’s Torah portion discusses the Rebellious Child, one who […]
I write these words from somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, as I return home to New Jersey from a week-long trip to Israel. But am I really returning home? On the one hand the answer is a resounding yes. I long to reunite with my wonderful family back in NJ, can’t wait to get back […]
I ran away from school crying on my very first day of first grade. Why, you ask? Was the teacher a strict disciplinarian? A cruel tyrant who caused innocent children to cry? Actually he was a kind and gentle man. I ran away because he gave me too much recess. HUH?!? Let me explain. My […]
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” Rarely is a slogan so well known, yet so profoundly untrue. As recent tragic cases of bullying and cyber-bullying have shown, words, taunts, and names can not only hurt, they can literally kill. In the words of contemporary R&B artist Dave Barnes: […]
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. (“The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, mounted on the Statue of Liberty). We all yearn to breathe free, to be free. But do we really know what freedom means? Ask somebody the meaning of freedom and you will usually get an answer […]
‘Tis the season to be materialistic. You can’t get away from it. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Sensational Super Sale Sunday (okay, no such thing — I made it up). From two weeks before Thanksgiving until a week after New Year’s we are bombarded from every angle and venue with offers that we are told we […]
Imagine doing a strenuous workout outside on a ninety degree summer’s day. Workout was tough — but you did it. You feel good. Invigorated. You go inside your house & you are thinking about one thing & one thing only – WATER. Water for a cold drink, water for a hot shower. You open the […]