Thoughts on being Jewish

I wrote the following for our regional Jewish newspaper, but it applies to everyone; In the poem Eishet Hayil – A Woman of Valor, which concludes the book of Proverbs - a woman whose worth is “far beyond that of rubies” is esteemed for her business acumen, her good judgment, her strength, compassion, and, not the least of all, for the fact that she “spreads out her palm to the poor; she extends her hands to the needy.” Even in biblical times, women were held up as exemplars of charitable giving.... Sign in to see full entry.

“The seventh day is a palace in time which we build. It is made of soul, of joy and reticence.” " It is one thing to race or be driven by the vicissitudes that menace life, and another thing to stand still and to embrace the presence of an eternal moment." Abraham Heschel Just before Shabbat, some traditional Jews empty their pockets of anything work related and put it in a "Shabbos box". In go Palm Pilots, cell phones, laptops, car keys, wallets, etc. Stripped of these tools, we are free to... Sign in to see full entry.

I just received this email from a reporter cousin of mine - a very interesting theory! Was there a Jewish President? On the twelfth of February, 1809, nearly 200 years ago, a young, poor illiterate woman from Virginia, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, gave birth to a son, in a log cabin, built along the banks of the south fork of Nolin Creek, near what is now Hodgenville, Kentucky. That baby, whom she named Abraham, grew to become one of our greatest, and most tragic, national leaders. Lincoln was a man of... Sign in to see full entry.

Jewish life cycle events, including death and its preparations, have specific rituals and rules and forty years ago, I learned about the prohibition against autopsy and cremation from my Day School Rabbi-teachers. In order to be resurrected when Moshiach (the Messiah) finally came, our bodies had to be intact. But – and this was tough to wrap my 10 year old mind around - according to readings from Ezekiel, we come back in a Tim Burton-movie-ish way, with just our dry bones clomping around the... Sign in to see full entry.

The old Jewish joke goes; When does a fetus become a human life? When it graduates medical school. All kidding aside, as a pro-choice female who found it necessary to terminate a very much wanted pregnancy in the 18th week - 20 years ago - I seethe at the Sarah Palins of the world who claim that nothing - even the life or health of the mother should prevent a fetus from being born. Here is what the Torah has to say about that; Jewish Law not only permits, but in some circumstances requires... Sign in to see full entry.