Parashat Toldot: Staying the course

Parashat Toldot: Staying the course

A quick Google search of the expression “Covid fatigue” yields over 392 million results. Incredible, considering that less than a year ago, none of us really knew what Covid even was. Fatigue, boredom or “ennui” are states of being that we are all too familiar with; a...
Parashat Chayei Sara: Making the most of our time

Parashat Chayei Sara: Making the most of our time

Life is a deadly proposition. It matters not who we are, what wealth we have accumulated or the title we claim; our time in this world is limited. Instinctively, when resources are limited, we try to make the most of them, to make them last. In times of financial...
Parashat Vayera: Our influence as parents

Parashat Vayera: Our influence as parents

Growing up with Romanian parents and grandparents has provided me with the privilege of learning many interesting and wonderful sayings that can make you laugh, make you cringe and more often than not, really make you think. One such saying that I have often heard is...
Parashat Lech Lecha: Becoming our best selves

Parashat Lech Lecha: Becoming our best selves

There are moments that cause us to pause and examine our lives, our accomplishments and our successes. One such moment is the high school reunion. While the tenth and fifteenth might be fun and exciting, when there are decades involved, these gatherings are more...
Parashat Noach: The world’s changing and we must too

Parashat Noach: The world’s changing and we must too

Why when I was you age, children spoke when spoken to. When I was your age, children knew what respect was all about. Oh, and we hiked five miles through ten feet of snow, each way to get to school- uphill! Maybe we don’t use those exact words with our own children-...
Parashat Breishit: Maximizing our potential

Parashat Breishit: Maximizing our potential

Over the past several weeks, throughout the Yom Tovim, we have run the gamut from introspection to outreach. We have communed with G-d, we have looked deep within ourselves and searched our souls and we’ve reached out and connected with family and friends. Now, faced...
Parashat Korach: Happiness is being content with what we have

Parashat Korach: Happiness is being content with what we have

Having been raised in a comfortable though by no means wealthy home, my sister and I had a private education, music lessons, art lessons, and lived in relative comfort. Nevertheless, there were things that were just “not fair”, purchases I felt were “needed” but...
Parashat Chukat: The lessons of the Song of the Well

Parashat Chukat: The lessons of the Song of the Well

This past week I had the pleasure of meeting the families of our new kindergarten class. The excitement over the new chapter in the lives of their children was contagious. Indeed, the kindergarten class is one of the happiest places in our school. The children are...
Parashat Shelach: The mitzvah of hafrashat challah

Parashat Shelach: The mitzvah of hafrashat challah

Nothing says Shabbat like the smell of freshly baked challah. There is something so soothing about the aroma wafting through the house, the texture of the bread, the silence after netilah as we wait, impatiently, for our portion. Challah becomes more than just food,...
Parashat Beha’alotcha: Raising those around us

Parashat Beha’alotcha: Raising those around us

The comforts of modern technology have all but eliminated our need for fire. Fire, in our lives, is mostly relegated to the lighting of candles or summertime campfires. Whatever the source, fire is mesmerizing. One cannot help but be drawn in by the sway of the flame,...