Are You Getting the Support You Need?

Image by Vicki Nunn from Pixabay As the final assignment for one of the classes I’m taking at rabbinical school, I am creating an adult education program on a topic that reflects my own life experience. I don’t yet know when (or indeed whether) I would offer it to real people, but it got me … Continue reading Are You Getting the Support You Need?

If Not Now, When?

Image by Annette from Pixabay I’m still celebrating my birthday … my Hebrew birthday! I was born in a leap year in the Hebrew calendar, which is an extremely complicated combined lunar and solar calendar. This means that in every cycle of 19 years, 7 of them have an extra month intercalated, to keep all … Continue reading If Not Now, When?

Let’s Talk About Chocolate

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay Happy Valentine's Day! Today is my birthday - 62 times around the sun. There are many disadvantages to having  been born on February 14th, but the easy availability of sappy birthday cards and chocolate is definitely not one of them. The other day I realised, with some sadness, that … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Chocolate

Return and Get It

Image by Richard Brown from Pixabay I was recently privileged to learn from an American Black Jewish community leader, Shahanna McKinney Baldon. One of the concepts she mentioned was Sankofa - a Ghanaian term meaning “Return and get it”. The word enjoins its hearers to respect the past, while building for the future. You can … Continue reading Return and Get It

Let’s Talk About Bone Density (Again)

Lifting is fun! If you follow me on social media, you know that I like to post little videos of myself lifting weights in the gym (this is a screenshot from one of those videos, sorry it's a little blurry). It’s a great form of exercise, especially for those of us who are getting up … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Bone Density (Again)

Let’s Talk About Trees

Image by Joe from Pixabay This week, we celebrate Tu B’Shvat - literally the 15th of the Hebrew month of Sh’vat, which the Talmud designated as the New Year for Trees. This was for the purpose of determining which fruit trees would be tithed each year, as there were different rules depending on the age … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Trees

New Year, New Habits … Right?

Image by Martin Büdenbender from Pixabay It’s a new year! 2024, no less, almost a quarter of a century into the 21st, which seemed so shiny and new not so long ago. At least, that’s how it seems to me, I guess that means I’m old. My youngest, who is now a functioning adult of … Continue reading New Year, New Habits … Right?

Let’s Talk About Inflammation

Image by Steven from Pixabay It’s been a while since I’ve written a health post - but sometimes my body reminds me that it needs attention too. When my cat wants my attention, she may walk on my keyboard or nip at my fingers. When my body is feeling the same way, it whips up … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Inflammation

The Real Miracle of Hanukkah

Image by Evgeni Tcherkasski from Pixabay I was trying to write a really good message about Hanukkah, and this amazing post by my SVARA teacher Maggid Jhos Singer landed in my mailbox. I could not possibly say any of it better than he did (and he really does talk like that!). Enough said. Happy Hanukkah, … Continue reading The Real Miracle of Hanukkah