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Most every Friday, I bake mini-loaves of challah bread. Most of which I give, still warm, to neighbors.   The word companion is made of two root words: con (with) and pan (bread). The people with whom you share bread are your companions.   That’s why I share it.     ***     Because I don’t […]

A letter to James, who had the same Buddhist teacher as me—Nagy. Dear Brother,    You told me that a new friend of yours wanted to connect with Hebrew Israelites.   I found the group’s headquarters in Los Angeles.  4395 Leimert Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008   They should be able to connect him with

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” Maya Angelou /// I stand at the kitchen counter making two large salads—one for Jane’s and one for my lunch. As I add a handful of the protein-packed light green beans, I ponder, “is edamame the name of the

Passover is a week-long Jewish celebration starting on the 15th of Nisan—which in the Gregorian calendar can range from March 25-April 24. For 2023, it’s Tuesday April 4. Traditionally there is a communal meal—a seder—at the home, focusing on the theme of freedom. The iconic food of Passover is matzah—unleavened bread. Traditionally people refrain from

It’s hard to wake up when the alarm goes off.   Daylight saving time means that I’m back to getting dressed and taking the dogs out for their morning walk with a flashlight.   It’s still dark as we return to the house and I continue with my morning routine.   I start Jane’s coffee,

*** 01 Dog guilt *** My sharp shout, “Hey!” scared Sparky, my beloved, small, dachshund-chihuahua mix. His little face looks up and says—I like to believe I know what he’s thinking—“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t know.” But he and I both know what he did. The single piece of

Those of us ordained as rabbis by HUC-JIR in May of 1998 received an email on February 3, 2023. The email was to tell us that the seminary would send a more detailed email by February 10 with details of the 25-year ceremony, to be held on May 4, 2023, in which the college would

The woman seated next to me en route from my connection in Dallas asks, “So whatever is bringing you from Los Angeles to Lynchburg?”   “This airplane,” I tease and quickly follow up, “but seriously, a mentor of mine invited me to perform as part of a revue show at the Hyatt tomorrow night.”  

  _08/30/1998_ Dear Diary, I met the remarkable Shauna Jean Malone today. And she is remarkable. I can even prove it, Dear Diary? 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 had assembled all

As you know, I send a spiritualigious newsletter every Monday, except for the last Monday of the month. Last Monday, January 30, you received the year’s first non-issue newsletter—the same one you’ll get at the end of each subsequent month in 2023. And, last week, January 30, instead of doing my usual off-newsletter-week’s task—ROTB’s end