Archive | Blog

By Shani Boone As the mother of an almost 20 year-old and almost 18 year-old son, new beginnings are apparent in our home. The boys are independent, no longer needing a parent home to “watch” them or drive them around, and this means lots of adult time for Roger and me. We are not necessarily […]

By Izzy Winston (age 8) I love to sing, dance and perform… so, my mom told me about musical theater. I decided to give it a try. I was a little nervous about trying something new. I practiced and practiced. Soon it was time for the class recital. I got to perform in a theater. […]

By Rachel Benson Life, as a “grown-up,” often feels like I’m just running on a hamster wheel.  And yes- after 24 years of officially being a grown up, the wheel seems to be going faster and faster.  Alarm chimes.  I wake up, much earlier than my circadian rhythm wants me to.  I scramble frantically to […]

By Rita Zipnick When I was about 12 years old, we had to read a book about Helen Keller. I was so taken by what this young girl suffered through and yet, she was so happy to be alive. The class had to write an essay and/or a poem about what we read and felt. […]

By Caron Winston Reflect on something! But what is reflection? According to the dictionary, as a noun, it means, “The throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it.” But, as a verb, it means “Serious thought or consideration.” Let’s consider what we have all been through the last […]

By Risè Kirbo Vulnerable, I have my arms up over my head. My fingers are spread wide. I feel something solid under my palms. It feels soft and moist, like clay. Then my hands begin to slip and I start sliding down. I gasp and my breath catches in my throat as my fingertips desperately […]

By Karen Warren I’m going to die. I’ve known it for a long time, but I found it difficult to believe. They said it was inevitable. I laughed and ran and lived. Now, I feel it in my bones and glimpse it in the mirror. My children’s children are growing so fast, as my gait […]

A few months ago, Marty Graffman challenged the Torah Study group to define a “mensch.” And, while I was listening to the group’s responses, I was thinking about how I would define “mensch.” But, everything that came to mind seemed formulaic, as if it came from a Wikipedia article. When I got home that morning, […]