Learned Helpfulness
Delta is the fourth letter in the Greek alphabet. The fourth letter in the Hebrew alphabet is the letter Dalet. Each one of the Hebrew letters has a meaning connected with its original pictogram. For Dalet the pictogram was a door (the Hebrew word for door is Delet). Dalet also refers to a poor or […]
Tweet of the Uncaged Bird
In class this morning we reflected on “last times” in a relationship or a career or life. I imagined the last class I would teach or the last, lingering kiss of my beloved. I glanced at my phone to discover a last tweet—a person was being remembered for her final tweet. Marguerite Johnson learned […]
Come Together
I stood less than 5 feet at age 16 when I started college. There were women in my class and students from all walks of life. We were given a reading list for freshman Intro to Sociology and asked to select a book we would report on in class. I chose Will Herberg’s Protestant, Catholic, […]
I have kept silent
I have kept silent about why I stopped going to the orthodox synagogue I was a member of for many years. I am now going “public.” The reason: While the lives of the high school girls in Nigeria is still weighing heavily on me, (Boko Haram has now claimed that many of the girls have […]
Godspeed and Goodluck
Thirty eight years ago a message was sent to humanity by the government and people of Israel. In keeping with the Torah precept: “Do not stand idly by when your brother’s blood is threatened” Israel responded to a hostage crisis in what has been called one of the most daring hostage rescues. Israeli commandos succeeded […]
Defining Moments
A story I have often told to illustrate our relationship with time is about a man at a party commiserating with others that he had lived more than half his life. The concept of “counting up our days” means that while we may be aware of the quantity of our days, the quality is never […]
Beyond Hope
Dayenu, the popular Passover song’s theme is about gratitude—“if only this then that would be dayenu (enough). The earliest Passover memory I have is of my Uncle Pesach (that was his name) discovering the Afikomen (matzah that is hidden) by stepping on it. My guess is that whoever hurriedly hid it had not anticipated […]
The Counting of the Omer 2014 Getting our Identity Back
For the past few years we have “counted the Omer” together—a 50 day count from Passover to the holiday of Shavuot. Following the tradition in Kabbalah—the weekly and daily counts relate to the Tree of Life—the sefirot from Chesed (loving kindness) down to Malchut (expression). The contribution of Kabbalah (and Chassidut) to our observance […]
Unpacking Ritual
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. The rhythm of spring is about new beginnings—actualizing potential. The preparation for Passover, the festival of the spring, includes creating the space for new growth. In contrast to the new beginning of Rosh Hashanah—the New Year in the fall, Passover is […]
Dekalb Emergency 911
Dekalb Emergency 911, what is the address of the emergency? I will get the paramedics started. Are you with him now? And is he awake? Yes he is. I am sending the paramedics now. Stay on the line and I will tell you exactly what to do next. The above 911 transcript occurs a […]