


Things Jews Should Say
I recently participated in a conversion ceremony. As our newly dipped member of the tribe emerged, he recited the Shema. The actions of circumcision and mikveh (“the snip and dip”) create the conversion, but the statement of faith guides…

Jewish and Loving It!
Amazon sells just about everything. You can buy a T-shirt that says “Jewish and Loving It.” The design includes tzitzit, one on either side of the shirt. These tzitzit do not dangle; they are merely a graphic. While I saw no reviews of the…

Just Justices Shall You Pursue
An ugly and hard-fought battle over an appointment to the Supreme Court rattled the country. The New York Times accused the nominee of being a radical. The nominee's religion was an additional issue. A close association with the President…

Jewish Family Breakdown
Dedicated to the memory of Sarah Brenner Rubin z"lThree generations gathered to bury a matriarch at a funeral I attended last week. Tempering the sadness was an extended family finding comfort in each other's arms and the joy of being together.…

Your Lying Eyes
“Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?” said Groucho Marx to his wife when caught in bed with another woman. At least, that is what I believed was the quote's origin. However, his brother, Chico Marx, said the line, and not…

And the Heat Goes On
This blog is devoted to the memory of Diane Harris Cline, z"l, an inspiring GWU professor and archeologist of the ancient Near Eastern world.This summer is a blast furnace of heat domes and unbearable temperatures. Intense heat has transformative…

Too Hot
The air conditioning was not working. The temperature in the plane was at least 90 degrees. Hot air was coming through the vents, so I sat very still. Others were agitated. Lacking faith in the repairs, a dozen passengers stood in the aisle,…

Legacy of the Rosenbergs
Remember the Rosenbergs? While working on an estate matter, I noticed a bequest to the Rosenberg Fund. The contact person’s name was Meeropol. Robert Meeropol created the Rosenberg Fund for Children, a public foundation named in honor of…

Holding a Grudge
“Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” That quote has been attributed to Buddha, St. Augustine, and Nelson Mandela. The axiom begs the question, "How do we let go of resentment?" Torah suggests…