<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Saltzman Communications]]></title><description><![CDATA[Marilyn Saltzman ]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:51:37 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[One thing at a time]]></title><description><![CDATA[“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 chatting with...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/one-thing-at-a-time</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6992038c743e81fba75c0fdd</guid><pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 17:40:51 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sasa Harambee, Modeling Mussar]]></title><description><![CDATA[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 I wanted to join...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/sasa-harambee-modeling-mussar</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6969173a482610fa288d99e6</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:44:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9da88_5ccdcee33b74402c9e5ab772531f90a4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_800,h_542,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Choose Kavod (honor)]]></title><description><![CDATA[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, it invited...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/choose-kavod-honor</link><guid isPermaLink="false">694080e58604a67fe77c5e9d</guid><pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:44:50 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jews and Thanksgiving – A Natural Fit]]></title><description><![CDATA[(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 began spending it...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/jews-and-thanksgiving-a-natural-fit</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6924f5ba8c513b4f517e3f7c</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:24:46 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Distorted Reflections]]></title><description><![CDATA[(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 creative writer and...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/distorted-reflections</link><guid isPermaLink="false">691657615e2a13855060546a</guid><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:14:52 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Roast and A Toast: Balancing Mussar Traits]]></title><description><![CDATA[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...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/a-roast-and-a-toast-balancing-mussar-traits</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68e7ec10a5a8e77456dece47</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:12:48 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stardust, light and awe]]></title><description><![CDATA[“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...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/stardust-light-and-awe</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68cc3558a2d5e0bf1a57a41f</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:39:08 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tenth anniversary: A note of gratitude]]></title><description><![CDATA[This month, my writers’ group, organized by Rabbi Jamie Arnold, celebrated its tenth anniversary. I remember very clearly the first...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/tenth-anniversary-a-note-of-gratitude</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68a4af5a6aa481be49340754</guid><pubDate>Tue, 19 Aug 2025 17:13:05 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nedivut Ha’lev (Generosity of the Heart)]]></title><description><![CDATA[“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...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/nedivut-ha-lev-generosity-of-the-heart</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68753d22d678f6de3352f6f2</guid><pubDate>Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:26:10 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Balancing Zerizut (enthusiasm)]]></title><description><![CDATA[“People with enthusiasm have passion, zest and excitement, and this can be contagious.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks When challenged to create a...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/balancing-zerizut-enthusiasm</link><guid isPermaLink="false">685b2822e52736d3e36164d9</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2025 22:42:53 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Test Driving Savlanut (Patience)]]></title><description><![CDATA[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...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/test-driving-savlanut-patience</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68349ddb2c9701be82308ccc</guid><pubDate>Mon, 26 May 2025 17:02:30 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Erasing history lacks kavod (honor)]]></title><description><![CDATA[“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...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/erasing-history-lacks-kavod-honor</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68001fb0b78c3292b82ab327</guid><pubDate>Wed, 16 Apr 2025 21:28:59 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Worry and Joy]]></title><description><![CDATA[“ 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...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/worry-and-joy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67d0e3026ee571608c18af7e</guid><pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2025 01:28:13 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mussar It!]]></title><description><![CDATA[When Rabbi Jamie went on sabbatical several years ago, fellow congregant Bonnie Houghton and I agreed to take the responsibility of...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/mussar-it</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67a95ba223b4d873cbefe1cd</guid><pubDate>Mon, 10 Feb 2025 01:53:15 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Communing with the Aspen ]]></title><description><![CDATA[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...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/communing-with-the-aspen</link><guid isPermaLink="false">678844d72dc8952d144e8ea1</guid><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jan 2025 23:39:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9da88_a0b3f17695cf443fad06fdf357244da7~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[“Orbital” Mussar]]></title><description><![CDATA[Reading Samantha Harvey’s novel “Orbital,” I discovered a number of Mussar lessons. The winner of the Booker Prize for Fiction, the book...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/orbital-mussar</link><guid isPermaLink="false">675e37c301f95e6e98a517b8</guid><pubDate>Sun, 15 Dec 2024 02:05:17 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Humility and Response-ability*]]></title><description><![CDATA[How can humility lead to response-ability, the ability to respond with compassion and love, rather than wanting to take responsibility –...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/humility-and-response-ability</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67327b4031756b3948d84017</guid><pubDate>Mon, 11 Nov 2024 21:50:51 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Teshuvah - Returning to a Higher Self]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rosh Hashanah family lunch, circa 1960:  Matzo ball soup. Chopped liver. Challah. Mandarin orange noodle kugel. Roast chicken. Honey cake...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/teshuvah-returning-to-a-higher-self</link><guid isPermaLink="false">670806c5c66faae06f66c081</guid><pubDate>Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:57:50 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Anavah (Humility) and Leadership]]></title><description><![CDATA[As a meek elementary school student, I turned down the chance to run for treasurer of Student Council. In high school, I refused the...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/anavah-humility-and-leadership</link><guid isPermaLink="false">66e220143158a3fdce18b60a</guid><pubDate>Wed, 11 Sep 2024 23:00:42 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Around the World with Mussar]]></title><description><![CDATA[It’s been a busy summer of travel, from The Netherlands to Yellowstone, New Mexico, St. Louis, Massachusetts and Connecticut – five...]]></description><link>https://www.marilynsaltzman.com/post/around-the-world-with-mussar</link><guid isPermaLink="false">66c5434d74b05a1e0cb0bf52</guid><pubDate>Wed, 21 Aug 2024 02:01:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9da88_3c72d3bd8f7249c1a87e240053ae4438~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Marilyn Saltzman</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>