On September 25, 1974 my 50-year-old father sustained a major heart attack. He was at home; I was in synagogue for Kol Nidre. It was my final year of medical school. I lived in Manhattan, but that day I returned home to my parents’ house following an all-day national exam given to senior medical students to determine if they qualified to apply for their medical licenses. My girlfriend at the time and I had the pre-fast dinner with my parents, and then she and I walked to synagogue. (more…)
We often think of the Exodus story in terms of good and evil. God is good. Pharaoh is evil. God heard the moaning of the Israelite slaves and remembered His covenant. He liberated them from their bondage telling Moses “Say, therefore, to the Israelite people: I am יהוה. I will free you from the labors of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and through extraordinary chastisements. And I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God. And you shall know that I, יהוה, am your God who freed you from the labors of the Egyptians.” (Exodus, Chapter 6 v 6-7) bringing them out of Egypt. (more…)
As a young child I watched a show called You Were There featuring Walter Cronkite as host introducing reporters on the scene when significant events in history were occurring. The show consisted of reenactments of history bringing the viewer into the situation as it was happening. I saw the duel between Hamilton and Burr as well as the being witness to the first use of penicillin in 1945. According to Wikipedia, “At the end of the program, after Cronkite summarized what happened in the preceding event, he reminded viewers, ‘What sort of day was it? A day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times… all things are as they were then, except you were there.’” (more…)
This September 23rd will mark the 40th Hebrew anniversary of my first entering Shomrei Emunah – on Shabbot Shuva 1983. Judy and I had moved from New York City into an apartment in Montclair 10 months prior. Why Shabbot Shuva? – three reasons. (more…)
A new social group called Boomers has been formed at Shomrei Emunah whose purpose is to encourage social, supportive and informational opportunities for Shomrei Community Boomer members and their friends. Activities will be aimed at the Baby Boomer generation, and, while membership is intended for fellow Baby Boomers, participation in activities will be fluid and open to all. Subgroups and activities might consist of groups for hiking, lectures, meet-and-greets, theater, and widows/widowers, as well as opportunities to connect/reconnect with people and events at Shomrei. Activities will be determined by the group. (more…)
