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Good Morning 10-2-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Tomorrow is Shemini Atzeret and Sunday is Simchat Torah. These are the seventh and eighth days of Sukkot. In Israel, both Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are celebrated on the same day. Simchat Torah in 2023 fell on October 7th, a day that lives in infamy as Israel was brutally attacked by Hamas. Their first target was the NOVA Music Festival that was held just east of the border between Gaza and Israel. Three hundred and seventy-eight people died there that day. Over 1200 people were massacred that day — men, women, children, and the elderly. They were celebrating at … Continue reading Good Morning 10-2-26

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Good Morning 10-1-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Each of the Jewish holidays have some central item upon which our focus rests. During Passover, it’s the matzah which represents the unleavened dough that the Israelites had to grab before it was ready as they fled Egypt and followed Moses into the wilderness. Now it’s a vehicle not just for the mitzvah of eating it as part of the ritual meal shared on Pesach, but a challenge to every Jewish cook’s creativity. It’s breakfast with peanut butter smeared on it. It becomes a substantial thin crust pizza. You can make the base for a delicious, sweet treat by layering … Continue reading Good Morning 10-1-26

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Good Morning 9-30-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Our Torah and Tea ladies group met yesterday morning in the sukkah at the synagogue. It was a perfect day; not too hot, nor too chilly. We took a slightly different path from reading an article or another chapter in Jonathan Sacks’ book. The meeting always begins with people sharing what happened in their lives in the previous week. Rosalie went first. She had planned a big trip to New York City to visit her daughter. They had tickets for a show and, since they’d gotten an AirBNB on the Jersey shore, she hoped to see the neighborhood they had … Continue reading Good Morning 9-30-26

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Good Morning 9-29-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

How secure is your life? Do you have enough socked away in retirement to not have to worry in your old age? Is your emergency savings enough to keep you and your family afloat for six months? That would be Dave Ramsey’s advice. If your car died tomorrow or your sump pump went out and completely flooded your finished basement, do you have enough to correct the situation? If the markets fall or your investments fail, are you diversified enough to survive? Ah but, those are just financial questions. How’s your health? Do you need to lose a few pounds? … Continue reading Good Morning 9-29-26

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Good Morning 9-28-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Temporary pleasures are just that — temporary. They don’t last. They don’t necessarily make your life any better except for that brief moment or moments when you are indulging in them. Whether your kryptonite is food, sex, money, alcohol, or drugs, there is something to attract; something that promises to make you feel better. Did you know that the U.S. and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world that allow televised advertisements for prescription drugs? They are banned or heavily restricted in Canada, Australia, the UK, and the European Union. But here in the good old U.S.A. … Continue reading Good Morning 9-28-26

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Good Morning 9-27-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Once in a while you find a discrepancy in a history book or other literature. You read it several times thinking maybe you missed the point. Nope! That word is misspelled. That date is incorrect. The place described is not the actual place where that happened. My husband and children are usually quick to point out in the middle of some ancient familial story I’m telling that I have my facts wrong. That’s not what was said. That isn’t what happened. They then proceed to tell their version of the event. Insert heavy sigh here. We have what appears to … Continue reading Good Morning 9-27-26

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Good Morning 9-25-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

How are you feeling today? We are deep into September, the weather has cooled, school has started, and, in many homes especially those with kids, the chaos has begun. There are lunches to pack, activities to plan, and practices to attend. There’s football practice Tuesday and Thursday evenings with a game on Saturday. There is Robotics Club, piano lessons, soccer practice, and church choir. Don’t forget Drama Club, school open houses, and bowling leagues. Kitchens everywhere, and perhaps your phone, have a posted calendar that shows birthdays, special events, practice times, competitions, and recitals. Add to that the fact that … Continue reading Good Morning 9-25-26

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Good Morning 9-24-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Today is the day. We will drag the steel poles, the large white covering, and the bamboo shades out of the basement to erect our sukkah. The last few years we have definitely felt our age when it came time to set up the sukkah. Up and down the step ladder to fasten the sheet walls to the top and bottom of the steel frame, tying the bamboo shades onto the top for a roof, and all the decorating takes time and energy. This year we invited a younger couple from synagogue to come help us. Then it’s dinner — … Continue reading Good Morning 9-24-26

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Good Morning 9-23-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

I would be the last person to claim to be OCD. You only have to look at my desk here at home or the sewing room or my bathroom vanity to know that “a place for everything and everything in its place” is not necessarily a motto that I live by. It’s not really the outside spaces I get picky about. It’s how I fold my towels. It’s about how my kitchen cupboards are organized. It’s my obsession with not having boxes of cereal or pasta in the pantry, but instead, putting them all into tall see-through containers and lining … Continue reading Good Morning 9-23-26

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Good Morning 9-22-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

If you found yourself alone in an elevator with the CEO of your company, or the Superintendent of Schools, what would you say to them? Is there something you would ask for? Would you thank them for anything or tell them what needs to be done next? Would you be wise and witty or too timid to talk? When I was at the bank, we were told to have an “elevator speech” ready if you found yourself in such a position. “Be ready to tell them what you want them to hear about you and your department. Be concise and … Continue reading Good Morning 9-22-26