Julia commited suicide. Joe stood at the memorial service with a request in memory of his sister and her struggle with depression and self-recrimination. "Next time you find yourself looking for a fight," he said, "next time you lace up those gloves for battle against yourself, [armed with judgment, anger, and shame], just stop right there, and turn in the gloves. Do that for Julia." I wonder what Joe would say about this week's Torah portion. TORAH [Teaching/Tale]: “When you

Whistling Birds and leaves Making music It’s a breeze Whispering Joys and pains Of all the songs that Heart strings can play From Breath to Word words birthing worlds Renewing life, now it’s our turn Baruch she’amar v’hayah ha’olam …baruch hu Baruch oseh v’reisheet …baruch shemo Waves of life Up from the deep Rolling in time they Sound out the beat Wondering Why am I here? What can I say? Why so much fear? From breath to word Words birthing worlds Renewing life, not it's ou

What a weekend! Full moon? It was a new one, Rosh Hodesh, the Hebrew month of Elul. Readings about choice, B’rachah v’qlalah -- ‘blessing’ and ‘curses’ A hidden moon, but a full week’s end. Hosting. Guesting. Young travelers from France filling the house with lively energy in short shorts, long appetites, and wide eyes for Colorado skies and Sabbath meal idiosycronicities -- songs in four languages, stories from four generations, and more attempts at jokes that do not tran