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

One of the Facebook groups I belong to is I Grew Up in Brooklyn .  I joined not to argue; I like to reminisce about Lundy’s, a seafood restaurant with legendary fluffy, buttery biscuits; Ebinger’s bakery with its mouth-watering crumb cake; and the piping hot slice of cheese pizza (15 cents!) on Flatbush Avenue. Unfortunately, like so many Facebook pages, Brooklyn has its share of vitriol. A recent post read, “In your opinion the most evil human being alive today…”  Of course,

(Adapted from an essay I wrote for our synagogue’s enewsletter) When Irv and I moved to Denver in 1970, we had no family here. So, our next-door neighbor kindly invited us for Thanksgiving dinner. And first she asked, “Do Jews celebrate Thanksgiving?” While I appreciated that she was respectful and curious, I was also a little surprised since I had never thought about it before. Family Thanksgiving celebrations had always been a part of my childhood. After Irv and I met, we b

(Inspired by my granddaughter’s poetry) I look in the mirror and see: Sprouting black mustache hairs, A creviced face and turkey neck, Bulging tummy, droopy breasts. My teenage granddaughter stands next to me, Also searching her reflection for perceived flaws. Yet I see her as a gift, wrapped in a full-lipped smile, Sparkling brown eyes framed by long curly lashes, High cheekbones, perfect figure. And inside the package:  A kind and loving heart, An adventurous spirit, A crea

In recent weeks, I was asked to offer a roast and a toast at two different gatherings, each with more than 100 attendees. The roast was...

“We come from the universe. We are intrinsically part of the earth. That’s our origin story. Once we know it—know it in our bones—our...

This month, my writers’ group, organized by Rabbi Jamie Arnold, celebrated its tenth anniversary. I remember very clearly the first...

“Because we live in a money-centric culture, we tend to think of generosity only as a question of reaching into our wallets. But as with...

“People with enthusiasm have passion, zest and excitement, and this can be contagious.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks When challenged to create a...

Buying a new car is always a test of the Mussar trait of savlanut ( patience) as I don’t enjoy interacting with the over-eager salesmen...

“Who is wise? He who learns from everyone….Who is honorable? One who honors his fellows.” Ben Zoma, ancient Jewish sage in Pirkei Avot On...

“ If there is anxiety in a man’s mind, let him quash and transform it into joy with encouragement.”   Proverbs 12:25   In our evening...

When Rabbi Jamie went on sabbatical several years ago, fellow congregant Bonnie Houghton and I agreed to take the responsibility of...

At a holiday party, I heard about a new (to me) writing process called nature journaling. A friend directed me to a website hosted by...

Reading Samantha Harvey’s novel “Orbital,” I discovered a number of Mussar lessons. The winner of the Booker Prize for Fiction, the book...

How can humility lead to response-ability, the ability to respond with compassion and love, rather than wanting to take responsibility –...

Rosh Hashanah family lunch, circa 1960:  Matzo ball soup. Chopped liver. Challah. Mandarin orange noodle kugel. Roast chicken. Honey cake...