Jewels 2019

Dear Sonny, Do you remember as a child, how you celebrated Roosevelt’s victories? They were victories for all people and all times and celebrated things

Nessa, at 95, has a question for me. “What are you going to do about it?” She’s talking about antisemitism. That isn’t surprising. When Nessa

Holy Child, The most important truth I want you to know, in the most absolute way, is that you are never alone. Although there is

I was raised in a country that I do not take for granted. My parents were refugees from Europe, survivors of the Holocaust, and Israel became their

Thousands of years ago, two rabbinic scholars debated, what is the most important verse in the bible. Rabbi Akiva insisted that it was “Love Thy

Dear Future Me: This is my advice…continue to trust your wisdom. When people talk fast, listen slowly. You have learned that the hard way. Look

I remember a hot Saturday morning in August, 20 years ago. I was on the brink of middle age but in my spiritual adolescence. I

A letter For Grieving Friends …………………..(Psalm 23) גם כי אילך בגאי צלמוו Those who walk through the Valley of Shadows wear no shoes. Their feet

Dearest Danny, I’m speaking to you from the future (more on that in a moment) and someone has asked me to write you a letter.

As you enter Elul, I hope you remember to incorporate the beautiful Hebrew acronym from Song of Songs that characterizes this month – Ani L’dodi

Drafting a letter to my future-self prompts me to reflect on human mortality. Surrounded as I am by beings of finite years, statistically speaking, when

Four Notes about Self Portraits: Kenwood House, London, “Self Portrait with Two Circles” by Rembrandt. The Dutch painter stood in front of the canvas in Amsterdam in

Dear Amanda, It’s 2019/5779. Truth, for many citizens of the world, must be encapsulated in 280 characters. People, ideas, institutions, relationships and even states, are

Dearest One, This is my favorite story of us. Appropriate, I think, as we get ready to leave the third rehab of this year, that

Dear Birthday Boy, As you approach your birthday, here’s a thought. Genesis 23 tells us that Sarah died at the age of 127, an impressively

As 5780 approaches, you are more rooted than you have been in the recent past. A focus on home, chosen family and purpose has grounded

For a while I was unhappy with your choices. Now I realize, because of you, I am me.  So, love your imperfections. Love what you

For the last three years, I’ve been writing a book entitled Shanda: A Memoir of Shame and Secrecy in which I revisit aspects of my

Self-examination is rarely easy, sometimes painful and yet always necessary. I tell my students: “don’t fall in love with your own assumptions.” Much like examining

A letter to my children, Midrash teaches that God created the world on Rosh Hashanah. In this particular story, God has a thought, consults with

I received a gift this morning. I had set my timer for five minutes and closed my eyes. I first focused on experiencing just my

Note to Self, Each year you use the High Holidays as a reminder to take stock of the year which has passed. What has occurred?

I was brought here to America for a better life. I’m an adoptee who came from Guatemala at five months old.  I never want to

Dear Whatever-Your-Name Will-Be: We write this letter to you, our first great-grandchild, even though you have not been born yet. The first thing we want

Dear Jonah, In a few years, you will be a Rabbi.  You are choosing this path at a time when more people need comfort and

Dear Younger Danya: I know you’re lonely.  I know you feel anxious, uncertain. I know it might not feel like it now, but some of

A letter placed in the Western Wall by the daughters of Hedy Orden. I love you Israel and I was always a Zionist, even before

Today, you measure one pound. One little pound and you have already changed my whole life and taught me to see the world with new

Dear Elan, You have always been inspired by the words that open the final parsha of the month of Elul: אתם ניצבים היום כולכם לפני

I want to tell you a story, because it just happened and you might forget it. I (you, that is) was standing in the airport

A Note from Craig If I want to send a message, I send a text. If I want to reach someone, I pick up the