So many people have had a significant impact on my life. In fact, I’ve noticed that when needed most, help comes. I now rely on that, learned to trust that at just the right moment, if I’m able to tune out the “reacting” and allow myself to experience the quiet

You know that old comic opening, “I just flew in from L.A. – and boy are my arms tired.”  Well, my recent return flight from California, an early college scouting tour, is but a subset of this past year’s remarkable journey. Often I’m teased about “packing heavy” for a trip.

Being a rabbi's daughter, it was really hard to be my own person. When my father became emeritus, I was truly able to explore my own being. I joined the choir, became part of many committees, and engaged the congregation as a true friend, not just a member/rabbi's daughter. From

I was born in Brooklyn.  My mom was born in Brooklyn, as were her parents.  My wife was born in Brooklyn, as were both her parents, and their parents.  So, when someone asks me where I am from, I say, “I was born in Brooklyn.”  I have a certain pride

When I heard this year’s theme, “Where Am I and How Did I Get Here” I was moved to take part with my own story. Many of you know that I moved here from California in March, that could be a whole article in and of itself. But you may

Sometime life's journey includes sad losses and drastic changes. I am convinced that there isn't an adult who has not had to face such challenges. Each of us deals with these losses and changes differently. My solution--loving family and caring friends. We must welcome them into our lives because they

"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times" So begins Dicken's story of crisis and growth leading to doing the right thing. That opening line has haunted me ever since I first read it, probably required reading in High School, a time when most of us

It is the Monday morning after the sad events in Charlottesville. My perspective on the world is changing daily. Nazi flags make my blood boil. I am the child of Holocaust survivors. I fit that profile in many ways. My parents were not in camps but fled because of it.

Where have I been? In the past year I have been spending more time thinking about what it means to be Jewish for me. I was contemplating my conversion and what it means for me and also my family and friends. I was wondering would I be “Jewish enough”, would

When I was a little girl, my parents taught me the meaning of being a good Jew by example. They had an open home for those who needed help and of course we prayed on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, and celebrated Chanukah. We weren’t what you’d call “devout practicing”