This one had me a little stumped. I'm really not sure what Rabbi Sommer means by it - but that's OK, it's up to me to imbue it with meaning anyway. There are many possible interpretations of the word "fill" - we can eat our fill, we can fill our hearts or our hands, we … Continue reading #BlogElul 20: Fill
Tag: Superman Sam
#BlogElul 5: Accept
Acceptance is an interesting concept. It looks like it might mean giving up, not striving any more, just accepting what is. But that's not necessarily true. For example, an empowered person accepts 100% responsibility for everything that happens in his or her life, good and bad. That doesn't mean that the person shoulders blame for … Continue reading #BlogElul 5: Accept
#BlogElul 4: Accept
Wow, Rabbi Sommer doesn't mess around. Sure, why not bring out the big guns right away? A few days to warm us up and bang, here we go. So why is the theme "accept" such a big deal here? As I mentioned in my pre-Elul blog post, this has been a tragic year in Rabbi … Continue reading #BlogElul 4: Accept
Preparing for #BlogElul!
I am so excited. One of the absolute highlights of my blogging year is coming up. It's almost time for #BlogElul! Every year, my friend Rabbi Phyllis Sommer sets up a schedule for blogging, tweeting and Instagramming (is that a verb?) about the Jewish month of Elul. Elul is the final month of the Jewish … Continue reading Preparing for #BlogElul!
The Superman Passes
I am so sad. The beautiful, courageous, wonderful Sam Sommer is no longer with us. According to the Times of Israel, Sam passed peacefully away at home, with his loving parents at his side. I cannot imagine what it is like to be Phyllis or Michael Sommer right now, and all I can do is … Continue reading The Superman Passes
Why I’m Not Running For The Cure This Year
At this time in years past, this blog has been adorned with pink badges and pleas for money. I was very successful in raising funds from my generous friends. But this year, I'm not doing it. Here's why. Everything I wrote in the blog post I linked to above is completely true. I am very … Continue reading Why I’m Not Running For The Cure This Year
#BlogElul 26 – Hope
As you know, I've been writing this series of blog posts as part of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer's #BlogElul challenge. I've also been talking about her 7 year old son, Sam, who has just received a bone marrow transplant because of persistant leukemia. I don't know if Rabbi Sommer had the fact that September is Childhood … Continue reading #BlogElul 26 – Hope
#BlogElul 21 – Change (II)
It's been a very rough year for Rabbi Phyllis Sommer and her family. As you read this blog post on August 27, her 7-year-old son Sam will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant to treat his persistent leukemia. It's a parent's nightmare. Sam can use all of our good thoughts and prayers, so please send … Continue reading #BlogElul 21 – Change (II)
#BlogElul 13 – Forgive
Wow. Maybe it's time to accuse Rabbi Sommer of some serious prescience. Not only is the transition from Trust to Forgive pretty darned seamless, I wrote a blog post about Not Doing Mean in between. I've posted many times on this blog about David Wood - in particular this post about kindness and forgiveness comes to … Continue reading #BlogElul 13 – Forgive
Please Pray for Superman Sam
If you've been following this blog at all for the past couple of weeks, you've noticed the #blogExodus series, which took over in the time just before Passover. The inspiration for that series came from Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. She writes an interesting blog on Jewish parenting, by a Reform rabbi who is also a mother … Continue reading Please Pray for Superman Sam