They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I think it’s desperation. Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, or an unattractive perspective. After all, are we not enough on our own, a whole person without need of another to complete us? Why then is there this agonising desperation that comes along when someone you’re close to—whether spouse or friend—is missing? If we are complete, why feel the sting of loss? Why desire? Why need? Why love? These musings come to me after enduring ...
All Things Jewish
The Quest for Holiness
This past Sunday, we celebrated Rosh Chodesh Elul. For those of you who don’t know, this is the final month of the Jewish calendar, and Rosh Chodesh is our celebration of the beginning of a new month. Thus, when we reach the month of Elul, things get crazy. Basically, imagine that you started getting ready for New Year’s Day (the January one) on December 1 by celebrating its upcoming arrival with a huge party. Then throw in a bunch of religious observances through the rest of December ...
Existential Loneliness
This past Shabbas my rabbi shared about his experiences at a conference, and this sparked a memory of mine, one which might be worth sharing here. To contextualize, said rabbi of mine met with fellow clergy and leaders of like-minded philosophies and practices, and the hot topic which seemed to be on everyone's lips was this new concept of "existential loneliness." What is this existential loneliness? Well for starters, they used it in the context of clerical service. It wasn't some ...
How Long?
There was a shooting—another; again—at a school yesterday. An elementary school. Elementary. I’m from Texas, where it took place. My family still lives there. I have a niece in second grade. It could have been her school. It should not be any school. I am done. I am done with COVID, now monkey pox, with my family being diagnosed with chronic health problems. I am done with governments that do not care about their citizens, but choose to aggrandize their own agendas. I am done ...
WOMS: The Light of the Midnight Stars
Please note: this post may contain affiliate links for products I recommend. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Though I should be sharing my review of Evie Dunmore's most recent League of Extraordinary Women installment, Portrait of a Scotsman, because today is Erev Purim, I've decided to instead share something a bit more Jewish---Rena Rossner's The Light of the ...
