Blogging

The Moaning is Unbearable

I can no longer bear to watch the news. MSNBC was once my morning companion and my evening lament, my spirit and my sorrow. But now, the constant moaning is unbearable. It is the moaning of those who love democracy and those who fear persecution.…

A New King

וַיָּ֥קׇם מֶֽלֶךְ־חָדָ֖שׁ עַל־מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָדַ֖ע אֶת־יוֹסֵֽף׃ A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. Shabbat, January 18, falls just two days before…

Care and Long Distance Connection

I grew up watching my parents’ unwavering devotion to my grandparents, especially as they aged. Their dedication became the gold standard for care in my mind. When Grandma Sarah was hospitalized at Lenox Hill for two months, my mother commuted…

Christmas Presence

Christmas coinciding with the first night of Hanukkah might suggest a joyous day. Yet, for me, it unfolded differently. I spent hours with my mother in her rehab room and another hour guiding a friend whose father had entered hospice care after…

Dreaming of Freedom

Captive in an Egyptian prison, Joseph's ability to interpret dreams became the key to his freedom. What dreams did Joseph have during those long, uncertain years of captivity? Will dreams sustain those held in chains of oppression or illness…

Bad News Bearers

I needed a guide for navigating difficult conversations. Comforting the grieving and ill is a mitzvah, but we have to be careful what we say to be helpful and not harmful. I thought of this analogy. We should be like a bowl of chicken soup:…

What’s Your Plan

When getting a haircut recently, I shared my stress about the current state of our country, especially the radical elements. Post-election, the news has me worrying about my family’s well-being. Between snips, my stylist advised me to tune…

I Saw Jacob Kissing Rachel

וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְרָחֵ֑ל וַיִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃ Then Jacob kissed Rachel and broke into tears.The story of Jacob kissing Rachel at the well is a tale of divine…

Keep Digging

Molly Ivins famously observed, “The first rule of holes is, when you’re in one, stop digging.” Thomas Friedman added, “When you’re in three, bring a lot of shovels.” Reflecting on the story of Isaac in Genesis, I’m inclined to…

Mike Huckabee’s Torah

In the Torah, as Rebekah’s family sends her off to marry Isaac, they offer her a striking blessing. Rather than the typical wishes we might expect for a young bride—health, happiness, and fulfillment—her family’s blessing takes on a…