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Good Morning 10-26-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

My dad used to say, “Getting old ain’t for sissies.” The older I get, the truer that phrase becomes. Getting old means dealing with aches and pains you’d rather not think about. It involves coming face-to-face with your own mortality as you realize there are far more many years behind you than there are before you. You think about, not so much the sorrow that comes with the deaths of those you know, but your own death. It’s definitely NOT for sissies. In this week’s portion, Vayera, we read what seems to be an obvious truth in Genesis 18:11. “Now … Continue reading Good Morning 10-26-26

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Good Morning 10-25-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

You may remember the 1995 Seinfeld episode in which the word “regifting” was popularized. The gist of the story is this: Jerry gives a pair of Super Bowl tickets to his dentist, Dr. Tim Whatley. In return, Whatley sends Jerry a label maker as a thank-you gift. Elaine recognizes the label maker as her own Christmas gift to Whatley and accuses him of being a “re-gifter.” The show about nothing explores the social awkwardness of receiving a gift that was previously given to someone else. In the end, Jerry discovered why Dr. Whatley gave the item to him. It turns … Continue reading Good Morning 10-25-26

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Good Morning 10-23-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Have you ever prayed for something and God is just silent? Your prayers seem to get to the ceiling and stop. Is God ignoring you? Is He saying “No,” and you just don’t get it? Kids have interesting ways of dealing with being ignored or hearing “No” or “Not now.” Generally, it involves some kicking and screaming for the littles and more subtle but just as subversive activities for older kids. Oh, let’s be honest. As adults, we aren’t very good at handling being ignored or hearing “No.” We may not kick and scream — okay, not most of us … Continue reading Good Morning 10-23-26

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Good Morning 10-22-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Family dynamics can be difficult. We talk about dysfunctional homes like they are an anomaly, but are they? Doesn’t each family have their own unique dynamics that cause hurt and pain to the relationships there? Uncle Bob is a character until he has a few too many drinks at Thanksgiving dinner. Your sister is unendingly annoying and so you avoid contact with her. You have a “black sheep” brother who can’t seem to fit in anywhere, not even at home. Fuel is added to the fire when alcohol, drugs, or criminality are introduced to the mix. Lech Lecha, the portion … Continue reading Good Morning 10-22-26

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Good Morning 10-21-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

We think we know how to spot a “bad guy.” They are the Harvey Weinsteins of the world, the men who prowl through bus stations looking for that young girl or boy who appears to be alone, afraid, vulnerable. They are the unsavory guys who hang out at the bar, their shirts unbuttoned to the middle of their chests, gold chains draped around their necks, firing pick-up lines at any girl who dares to make eye contact with them. We would like to think we could spot human traffickers, the ones who make a living selling men, women and children … Continue reading Good Morning 10-21-26

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Good Morning 10-20-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Yesterday we attended our first Jewish wedding. Not only was it a Jewish wedding, it was an Orthodox Jewish wedding. The event was held at Festival Hall, a huge venue near Lake Michigan in Racine. The women were a sight to behold. I’ve not seen so many sequins, spangles, and sparkles in my life. Everyone was dressed to the nines. The bride’s three sisters, all teenagers, are beautiful to begin with, but the dresses they wore were stunning. Two were in beautiful full-length coral dresses and the youngest, a ninth grader, had chosen a white dress with ruffles at the … Continue reading Good Morning 10-20-26

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Good Morning 10-19-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, aka Nachmanides or the Ramban, is considered one of the greatest medieval personalities in the Jewish world. He was an extraordinary scholar, philosopher, physician, kabbalist, and biblical commentator. He was raised and lived in Girona, Spain for most of his life. Toward the end of his life, he was forced to leave Spain (after winning a debate in 1263 against Pablo Christiane, a Jew who converted to Christianity) and relocated to Jerusalem. As a commentator on Torah, the Ramban went beyond explaining the meaning of a passage, verse, or word. He studied the structure of Torah. … Continue reading Good Morning 10-19-26

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Good Morning 10-18-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Have you seen the headlines? Paris is burning. Throughout France, what started as student protests have erupted into a mass conflagration. As per the usual arrangement, the students are joined by those with their Palestinian flags, calls for government action against the rising cost of living, and Greta Thunberg with her many axes to grind. As of yesterday, there were nationwide marches with hundreds of thousands of participants. Clashes with police resulted in over 1,800 arrests, fires at government buildings (including Limoges City Hall), and looting in cities like Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. It reminds one of then Seattle Mayor … Continue reading Good Morning 10-18-26

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Good Morning 10-16-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

The story of Noah ends like this: “Noah lived after the Flood 350 years. And all the days of Noah came to 950 years, then he died.” Genesis 9:28-29 Chapter 10 of Genesis gives us the genealogy of Noah’s three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. It ends by telling us that the descendants of Noah spread out across the earth after the Flood. Then comes the first nine verses of Genesis 11 and the story of the Tower of Babel. Now the entire earth was of one language and uniform words. And it came to pass when they traveled from … Continue reading Good Morning 10-16-26

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Good Morning 10-15-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

The ark landed, the ground dried up, and Noah and his family were finally able to leave what must have been a smelly, disgusting mess. All those animals with no place to “go,” if you get my drift, would have made the most ardent farmer wince. What would they eat when they emerged, before little if any vegetation would be ready and ripe to eat? Noah planned for the future and planted a vineyard. When the fruit of the vine was ripe, Noah took it and made wine. Then he proceeded to get as drunk as a skunk and pass … Continue reading Good Morning 10-15-26