Celebrate Torah
Every year, the season of reflection and renewal is culminated by the celebration of Simchat Torah (literally “the rejoicing of the Torah”).
Galilee Diary: Booths
Spread over us the sukkah of Your peace. Blessed are You O Lord, who spreads out a sukkah of peace over us, over the entire people Israel, and over Jerusalem.
Drawing Near to Torah
I did not have a typical Reform Movement upbringing, and would say that the three years I lived on an island in Alaska are probably most emblematic of that.
Songs of the Season
When JanetheWriter reminded her friends on Facebook, 'tis the season to be satiated with the songs of the season, I promised her I would tell my favorite White Christmas story.
Creating My Own Jewish Guided Imagery
Gore For several days before I began chemotherapy for transitional cell carcinoma, I created and rehearsed a guided image of a boat that allowed me to relax and give myself permission to enjoy the journey toward renewed health one chemo drip at a time.
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer: What Every Jew Needs to Know
In 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved House Resolution 1522, designating the final week in September as National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) Week and the last Wednesday of the month as National Previvor Day. Ironically, when Rep.
Reflecting on Simchat Torah
Thanks to social media and electronic devices you can check in on Foursquare and read the Mishkan T'filah prayer book on a handheld device at the same time. Yet for all the modern inventions, the Torah remains unaffected.
The Jewish Positive Spin
I am a little obsessed with the idea of positive thinking. I have done sermons over the years about not complaining, about speaking nicely to each other (instead of gossiping), and about plain positive thinking.
Prayers for Two Boys Who Are Sick
I've been thinking a lot lately about children who are sick. Their names rise up in my morning prayer; their images float before me during meditation. In my extended online community, there are two children who are struggling with cancer.
Alzheimer’s Disease: A New Frontier in Health and Wellness
My grandfather was looking at me through empty eyes. His scruffy mustache was unmoving; he was just staring. My dad was making simple, small talk, but grandpa was just staring.