By Rabbi Debra Smith At this time of the year, days grow shorter and the weather becomes chilly and cold, depending on where you are. However, this is also a season of gratitude with the holiday of Thanksgiving soon upon us. Thanksgiving gives me the opportunity to review and practice my gratitude work. Gratitude practice Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin Today is Veterans Day, a time for veterans to reflect on their service and a time for those of us who were not in the military to thank them for protecting us. We may be more focused right now on the war being fought by our brave cousins in Israel, but Continue Reading »
By Michalee Merritt It is the beginning of November and we have turned the clocks back. It is officially time to think about Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving and Judaisim you say? Thanksgiving and Judaisim you say? Don’t most Jewish holidays incorporate food? Big meals, little meals and deserts. The list goes on and on. While Thanksgiving is Continue Reading »
by Audrey Lichter The long holiday season is over. While the weather was glorious here in the Northeast, the shadow of the war in Israel pervaded all aspects of each of our holidays. The promise of a New Year was shadowed by the sadness of how painful this past year has been, both for American Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin Last Wednesday, just before Sukkot, I returned from a 6-week trip across the country and back. My holiday experiences included a wide range of synagogues, underscoring the spectrum of Jewish beliefs and practices. Let me share them with you! For Rosh Hashana we attended a synagogue in Los Angeles founded by Continue Reading »
by Michalee Merritt After Yom Kippur I start to think of things that I can do to make the world a better place. But before I can think of doing things like that, I have to take care of myself. I make sure that I am true to myself. For example, I remind myself not Continue Reading »
Rabbi Debra Smith Eternal One, Creator and Sovereign of all Life: We know you are grieved and mourn with us the loss of so many many innocent lives, Victims of the war waged by Hamas last October 7. Into a day celebrating peace, Chaos, murder and savagery invaded Initiated by Hamas upon the innocent. Eternal Continue Reading »
by Nina Fondiller Woldin Do you remember last Rosh Hashanah? Maybe, like me, you were with friends and family, thinking about the year that had passed and making plans for the coming year. Do you remember where you were soon after, on October 7? It has been a life changing, attitude changing, and awareness-changing year. Continue Reading »
by Audrey Lichter Today is my father’s Yahrzeit. He has been gone for 50 years. He died when I was a teenager, from a stroke in his mid 50’s. There is no good time to lose a parent. However, losing a parent when one is in the final stages of growing up is hard for Continue Reading »
by Michalee Merritt The high holidays are late this year. I am very happy about that. While most people spring clean, I like to fall clean. This year all of our children are out of the house. Cleaning and throwing things away can be very therapeutic. Changing up a room with new bedding or moving Continue Reading »
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