Category Archives: life and some

The Song of the Trees: Shabbat Shira & Tu Bishvat

Shabbat, although repeated next week in the Ten Commandments, is already mentioned in this week’s reading. Contrary to life the way we know it, when we get rain from the heavens and bread from the ground, the miraculous journey the … Continue reading

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what’s ahead on the journey

If we were G-d, what would we do? ‘I’ll do whatever I want!’ ok, so let’s say we’d spend bazillion of years enjoying ourselves on a beautiful beach somewhere, and then another bazillion traveling around our amazing universe, and then … Continue reading

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weihnachten whining

I love Christmas. Maybe because I don’t have to do anything for it. And maybe because in a strange way it reminds me of my childhood: the very multicultural city I grew up in, when this was a simple, obvious … Continue reading

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Two shorts on life (Vayechi) and a page from the Journal of…

My friends and I. For decades now we meet in each others homes, wherever those are, share food and drink and stories from our days. In good Israeli fashion, the conversation often ends with a deep sigh and a yihye … Continue reading

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Who’s Plan & A Wonderful Meeting

Last summer I had a fabulous opportunity to meet a very dear friend whom I haven’t seen for more than 20 years. As I waited nervously, I looked around at the people passing by, wondering, ‘is that him’ ‘is that’… … Continue reading

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Next Love Story: Jacob & Rachel

What would a therapist tell Jacob and Rachel? When I look at commentary, I find the first one calling it the greatest love story ever, and the second – worst love story ever. Which way is it? Yes… We know … Continue reading

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Plaid Friday: life lessons from recent shoe shopping

In Oakland, we have Plaid – rather than Black – Friday. But no matter how it’s called, shopping and I have never been great friends. On a list of my top 10 favorite activities, shopping will come in a close … Continue reading

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First Love, part II

Abraham, who first encountered love in the most unexpected circumstances, bequeathed it to his son, Isaac, who in turn shared it with his wife, Rebecca. Thus, the first love between a man and a woman in the Torah was born, … Continue reading

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Noah, his wife and some

Noah’s wife. Perhaps the most unsung hero of the Bible. “Hi Honey, how’s your day? I just got great news! you and me with our three lovely children and daughters in law, are going on a dream cruise! I’m just … Continue reading

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Few Thoughts for Rosh Hashana

I spend Shabbat rummaging through a box of old letters from the mid-late 1980’s to mid 1990’s, real letters, thin paper, bluish aerograms, (a word that Microsoft Word doesn’t even know), glorious postcards from around the globe, colorful cards, beautiful … Continue reading

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