A Psychology Lesson

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) On One FootMay 15 – Erev Shabbat It’s interesting that I haven’t really put pen to paper to do my sorta-daily blog. I was talking about this with one of my children and she said something interesting – ‘You are the only one putting pressure on yourself to accomplish something.…

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Dying for Ice Cream

Man joyfully playing acoustic guitar and singing outdoors.

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) On One FootMay 11, 2020 So it is pretty clear that the country is starting to ‘open up.’ No one really knows what’s going to happen but the epidemiologists have a pretty good clue. Many will open. Many will get sick. Some will die. It is a terrible calculus but…

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Rushing Out

Man reading from a book with a prayer shawl outdoors.

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) on One FootMay 6, 2020 Much to Stella’s chagrin, I have totally taken over my corner of the office with computers and audio equipment. As all of us are finding out, working from home takes up a lot of space. It is but one of the inconveniences of this lockdown.…

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All the Time in the World

Group of children and adults gathered outdoors, listening to a man speaking.

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) On One FootMay 2, 2020 I have been correctly characterized as ‘hyperactive.’ It was a huge problem in primary school and It was made worse because, back then, a lot people thought hyperactivity was some kind of intellectual deficiency. (In fact, the school psychologists even gave me an IQ test…

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The Chutzpah of Kaddish

A man and a young woman stand at a podium during a formal ceremony.

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) On One FootApril 29, 2020 We have all been touched by death in past couple of months. One way or the other it has penetrated our homes and our consciousness. We are subject to daily death counts and the polls of those who are sick. And even though the curve…

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Where Real Strength Lies

People with luggage inside a narrow indoor space, some wearing masks.

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) On One FootApril 23, 2020 It’s starting to hit home now for a lot of people. As disastrous as the virus is, I have not heard of too many people who have acquired it in my own circle. That is now starting to change. I just this morning heard of…

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Comment Ca Va?

Two women in traditional attire engaged in a cultural event with wooden objects.

While Standing (On One Foot) Six Feet ApartApril 20, 2020 The pandemic is having an interesting effect on me. Yes my hair is growing too long…but Stella wants to attack me with clippers. We will see how that goes. Yes, I am reading a lot. (I finally am getting close to finishing a fascinating volume…

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Unholy Sacrifices

Tall flagpole with an American flag in a backyard near a house.

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) On One FootErev Shabbat April 17, 2020 A little history. Between about 1300 and 1850 the world experienced what is now called a ‘Little Ice Age.’ It is exactly what it sounds like. Throughout the world there was simply no escape from the cold in places where winter occurs. Especially…

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Exile Redux

Cyril

You are all probably familiar with the Chinese expression “May you live in interesting times.”  We live in what are probably the most interesting times that any of us ever have, especially those born after WW II.  We have all heard the words: ‘unprecedented, unreal, surreal’ and so forth.  As Americans, we are simply not…

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No Choice

Man in orange shirt gestures while seated at desk with open book.

While Standing (Six Feet Apart) On One FootApril 14, 2020 I am at the point in this pandemic that I need a haircut. SaraAnn wants to experiment dyeing my hair. I don’t think I will go that route. Stella is adamantly against it. I lost that vote, for sure. But the truth is that my…

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