As a child growing up in an observant Jewish home, I remember Passover seders with mixed emotions. One highlight was joyfully singing Dayeinu, (It would have been enough for us), which commemorates a long list of God’s miracles. I loved opening the door for the prophet Elijah as my father (not so) secretly shook the table, so it looked like the wine was being sipped. It was fun to chew matzoh into circles for good luck, challenging each other to see who could make the best ci

During March, Women’s History Month, I remember with hakarat ha’tov  (gratitude) my two grandmothers whose history shaped my life in countless ways. While I knew Grandma Anna, my maternal grandmother, much better because she lived into my adulthood, I have been learning more about Bubbe , my paternal grandmother, in the last few years from my 97-year-old Aunt Ida , Bubbe’s  youngest.   Bubbe  died when I was eight, so I don’t have many of my own memories. My clearest one is w

“There is a reason God limits our days. Why? To make each one precious.” Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper As I age, I find that multitasking is becoming increasingly difficult if it was ever truly possible. Can I really do more than one thing at a time and do it well? Can I be present, aware of my choices and the people around me when I divide my attention among multiple tasks? I recently got a very messy answer to that question. I was making a new chocolate sheet cake recipe and

Recently I was invited to join the board of a small nonprofit organization, Sasa Harambee, based in western Kenya. Founded by Carol Carper, a Conifer Rotarian now living full time in Kenya, the nonprofit supports projects that empower local farmers, youth and people with disabilities. The name “Sasa Harambee” means “now we do it together,” reflecting the organization’s collaborative spirit. I was at a bechirah  (choice) point. I valued the organization, yet I wondered whether