Facing our Body Image

As a result of circumcision Abraham’s body would become perfect.  With the foreskin remaining he was not perfect physically.  Once the foreskin was circumcised his body would be perfect, it would be unblemished.
 As I was driving to the grocery store a couple of days ago I listened to the above words of a recorded shiur on [...]

A Serious Distribution Error

After taking a two week vacation between Yom Kippur and Shemini Atzeret I returned to work at the hospital to find that one of the patients I was assigned to had an active case of swine flu.  In the interceding two weeks time, not only have I taken care of a swine flu patient, I [...]

Burden of Proof

A couple of weeks ago I had opportunity to attend the Bat Mitzvah of a friend’s daughter.  The event was held on Shabbat/Shemini Atzeret at a local Reform Synagogue. Part of the Shabbat worship/Bat Mitzvah ceremony included the calling forth of pre-selected individuals to open and close the doors of the Aron (ark) where the [...]

The Akeidah and Yom Teruah

“Oh yeah, I wanted to tell you . . . I’m leaving for a trip to Amsterdam on September 6th.”  After returning from our 25th anniversary wilderness excursion I was anxious to catch up with our son who lives 2 1/2 hours away from us.  After chit-chatting about the trip and other day-to-day matters, he [...]

No Rest . . .for the Wicked??

This past Sunday morning as I looked at myself in the mirror, the reflection that looked back at me seemed kind of strange.  There I was, dressed in a navy blue skirt suit, looking very business formal, somewhat like a stewardess for Continental airlines, a lady attorney, or someone preparing for a job interview, except [...]

Packing for an Incredible Trip

I’ve always been the type that has a hard time packing light for a trip.  Weeks before a vacation I get into “list mode” and begin to make list upon list of necessary items I do not want to forget for the trip ahead. I always somehow use every inch of available suitcase or car [...]

A Silly Superstition

This past weekend, I found myself sitting among a group of women, on a beautiful summer afternoon, under the shade of an old oak tree in my sister-in-law’s backyard.  Before us was a young woman and man, my nephew and his fiancée.  Seated upon two matching white wicker chairs, with mountains of bags and boxes wrapped in [...]

When Timing is Everything

Over the past four months the hospital where I work has begun accepting patients with Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD’s).  A person requiring a VAD has experienced such profound heart failure that their heart cannot function at a level that will sustain life.  The VAD is a titanium chamber that is implanted in the abdomen of the patient [...]

Things Aren’t Always as They Appear

July 14, 2007.  This date had been in my mind and on my calendar since November.  That’s when my Mother informed me that this would be the day on which we would celebrate my Father’s 75th birthday.  Now, Dad has an April birthday but Mom decided that she wanted to surprise him with a special celebration [...]

A Matter of Interpretation

I remember the highlight of my 4th grade year of elementary school, was being assigned a pen pal.  Back in the day . . . before the advent of computers or cell phones, it was a big deal to write to someone in a foreign land.  My penpal was a girl over in Germany.  This [...]