Tag Archives | Echoes2021

As the 29 days of Elul come to a close today, Rabbi Lipper shares “A Meditation” for us to read and contemplate. I hope Elul has been an insightful journey for us all, filled with awareness, forgiveness, compassion, and gratitude. Risè Kirbo A Meditation. God, I have precious time to give to those I love, […]

Alan Shebroe As the Maharal of Prague said, “All the month of Elul, before eating and sleeping, a person should look into his soul and search his deeds, that he may make confession.” Well, here’s mine… I do not do well with change. It’s uncomfortable. It’s different. It makes me nervous. It requires effort – […]

Suzette Zazueta During a period of debilitating depression, my grim reality seemed to last forever. I longed for a magic solution. Thus, I sat, year after year, during High Holy Days, hoping that the ritual would give me what I needed: Renewal. Like magic my depression would be lifted, and I would have the ability […]

Monica Engel I have a small tray on the counter where I fix my face every day. I happened to take notice of a small blue and silver oval shaped metal box that contains safety pins. It was a face powder box that belonged to my mother and for whatever reason it called my attention […]

Cindy Grossberg One of the joys of being a “Nana” is being able to see the world through the eyes of a child, or in my case, the eyes of my granddaughters; Libby, 2 years old, and Riley, 1 year. Through them I experience for a second time, the innocence of childhood and how magical […]

By Martin Nakell From a novel-in-progress: Carcass of the Lion. In an 1897 Pogrom, Herschel Davidowicz, age 6, witnessing the murder of his mother, goes mute. A Wunder Rebbe tells Herschel (now 10) that he needn’t speak. He can write. Wunder Rebbe: “Why do we love Torah? We love Torah because it is the story […]

Early Childhood Center Our preschool teachers suggested the children contribute to Echoes of Elul this year. The children were read stories and poems about: growth and new beginnings. These concepts were discussed and what they mean to each child. The following are drawings that represent their interpretation of growth and renewal for the new year. […]

By Mike Rubin It has been three weeks and tears still flow from my eyes when I say Murphy’s name, when I think about our walks together, when I look at his photo… Murphy was more than just a dog to me… I have had other dogs – and all were special – but none […]

By Angela Holmes Sometimes we pull away from trials of the heart and/or psyche with little emotional residue. Sometimes we learn from a trial, emerging with new insight that we can put in our pocket for the “next time.” But this “sometime” we have been living, has been the sometime of physical, mental and emotional […]

By Rita Zipnick I celebrated my 80th birthday on July 14th, 2021. The occasion put me in a very reflective mood. As I thought back on my years on this beautiful place called earth and especially the United States, I realize how much I appreciate the freedom to be a Jew. Central to my faith […]