We are in the midst of a month of holy days! As the Feast of Tabernacles begins this week, our office and store will be closed from Wednesday evening through Saturday, 8:05 p.m. Pacific Time. This week’s Ask the Rabbi will go out Saturday night after that time. ____________________________________ I write these words while gazing...
Recently, I was looking to purchase some sewing needles at a fabric store. This seemed an eminently reasonable place to shop for such an item. The store had been rearranged since my last visit, so I asked for assistance from a 40’ish female employee standing at the checkout counter with nary a customer in sight....
It makes sense to live life cautiously. Rational thought precludes taking risks. Reason suggests that we carefully weigh all options and avoid stepping onto any path whose outcome cannot be clearly seen. This safe approach reduces the likelihood of wasting one’s time and money, or harming one’s health. It certainly has merit. However, if the...
Well-known TV actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild, Ed Asner, gave us a peek into why the terms racism and racist should be deleted from our vocabulary. Mr. Asner was honest enough to acknowledge that Hollywood’s silence regarding the president’s proposed military action against Syria, raised questions. Where were all the voices...
Susan and I wish you all a Shana Tova U’Metuka, a sweet and wonderful year, as we celebrate Rosh HaShana, the head of the year 5774. Our office and store will be closed as we observe this holyday starting this Wednesday evening and continuing through Saturday 8:30 p.m. Pacific Time. This week’s Ask the Rabbi...
Childbirth is a routine occurrence —until it isn’t. Like marriage and birth; like illness and death, we intellectually know that thousands of people share these events on any particular day. Yet, when we are a principal participant, the world shrinks to encompass little more than ourselves. This week begins the year 5774 on the Jewish...
