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Hope Hope It’s Thursday, late afternoon. I sit in my basement home office working on writing this newsletter. I’ve decided that I’m ok with the style of this newsletter being a little disjointed. I’m getting more comfortable with the genre of “pen-pal rabbi.”  Through my door, I hear Emmett’s 13-year-old voice repeating phrases into his gaming headset. […]

Cov-dad-19 Thoughts   “I don’t know, kiddo. I just don’t know.” The words slip out of my mouth. I am tucking Annie into bed. I’m exhausted. We all are. It’s not a complaint. It’s a fact. I’m tired. Just tired. Extra dad fortitude was required to get out of my bed and to re-tuck her

Two-dird watder. Please, Dad-da.    Yesterday at lunch at our kitchen table, my 11-year-old, Annie, was explaining to me how she deserved more screen time. She was poised. Brilliant in both logic and delivery. Laughing along at the utter brazenness of the request she was making. Delightful. But now, 24 hours later, it’s different. She’s

Despite my gallant efforts A noble start     A beautiful fall day. Sunshine. Amazing colors of leaves. Crisp air. I decide to bike—instead of drive—the 2.1 miles to the synagogue where I’ll be teaching a course in a few weeks. We need to finalize some details. The meeting ends and I realize that the

$200 S.D. (spiritual dollars) From my large, comfortable leather seat, I address the middle-aged man across from me. His eyes are closed. His head is cradled at the intersection of the loveseat’s armrest and back. We are about 20 minutes into our monthly spiritual direction session. And I’m delighted to see this man surrender into

Fear Notes   If my life were a pinball machine, I would tell you the ball is lighting up the letters f.e.a.r.    Fear is widespread. Coronavirus, the US Supreme Court sanctioning border agents to firing shots across the border and killing people in Mexico, the US justice department setting up procedures to denaturalize citizens, the anti-semitic graffiti this week

Be there now.   Do not accept reality as it is. Life can be better than this. You could be more content, more comfortable, and have better thoughts. You could have more. You could appreciate life more. You could breathe better, love more, and be more. You could be better off than you are right

An Ode to My Son After Accidentally Beating Him in Chess   My boy, I didn’t know the incidental check I put you in was mate. You had me. Your first, legit, truly-earned victory was certainly no more than a half dozen moves away. It had been a beautiful, grand ballet of a battle. Your

Setting the Stage    It is 8:42 am. I’m in the office overlooking NE Broadway and 18th. I have just unpacked my biker-style, faded, powder-blue backpack of: a computer an insulated water bottle a pear a diminutive 7.5 ounce can of Coca-Cola a pencil box a charging cable for my headset two types of snack

08/30/1998 Dear Diary,  I met the remarkable Shauna Jean Malone today.  And she is remarkable.  I can even prove it, Dear Diary.  Of course she’s remarkable! I’m remarking upon her right now, am I not? Anyhow, today is her birthday.  We were introduced at the Wren Dormitory corner of the uphill quad. The residential assistants