I am Jewish. I grew up in a very secular home, reluctantly went to Sunday School on Sunday and Hebrew School on Wednesday. I loved the sugary snacks served at break time and the boys in my class. The Hebrew, history and holiday lessons? I could take or leave. My mother knew no Hebrew, never Continue reading
Author: Iris Ruth Pastor
Altering our Behavior and Perspective Amidst Armed Conflict
When my five kids were little, there were days when I spent the majority of my productive hours organizing their toys. I remember endless hours spent putting their Legos of all shapes, sizes and colors in their respective boxes – only to wake-up the next day and do it all over again. Ditto for wiping Continue reading
As Headlines Scream Of Mayhem, Terror And Chaos, What Should We Do?
As Headlines Scream of Mayhem, Terror and Chaos, What Should We Do? Foremost, we should take care of ourselves. Because, as bystanders, what does a constant stream of gut-wrenching acts of atrocity do to us physically? Or more specifically, what’s the impact on that vital organ – our hearts? As the days of the Israel-Hamas War wear on, Continue reading
A Week of Mayhem and Chaos
Saturday, October 7 As usual, I wake up Saturday morning intent on completing my massive To-Do list. And then my brother rings my doorbell and stridently orders me to turn on the television. And in that moment, the earth beneath my feet shifts. Hamas attacks Israel Hundreds kidnapped Hundreds murdered Mass chaos Massive damage All Continue reading
I Did A Hurtful Thing
Last week I ran an old column but updated friends’ names in one part of it. I later realized I had done the many, many friends in my personal orbit a disservice by not acknowledging them and the pivotal position they too hold in my life. I am a lucky person.I started out with an awesome Continue reading
What do you do when you fall short?
I used to think the key to happiness was having hair like my friend Rella’s. She has masses of sun streaked, golden curls that frame her face in a wild, beautiful way. So I bleached my hair, permed my hair and tried to force my hair into framing my face in a wild and beautiful Continue reading
The Smoothie That Everyone Hates But Me!
Okay. No preamble today. Right into it.I tackled a recipe I found on the Internet: A cottage cheese smoothieCreated by ME Ingredients: 1/2 cup cottage cheese I frozen banana (partially thawed) 1 tsp. of ground cinnamon I scoop of Purely Inspired Organic Protein Powder (vanilla flavored). Blend all together in a Nutri Continue reading
The Significance of September
For years, September to me meant Change – a new page in the book of my life. First, I was a school kid with skinny legs and knobby knees running for the bus with my ponytail flying in the wind. Each September my teachers changed and my grade level accelerated. But the two people who Continue reading
You Just Never Know
It’s Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 7:14pm and I am sitting on my screened-in porch writing this column. I am over-looking my 100-year-old oak trees just a few yards from where I sit. Birds are chirping. The early evening sky is a startling blue. And sounds of traffic just beyond my walled yard intermittently break Continue reading
Tangling With Mother Nature
It’s Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 7:14pm and I am sitting on my screened-in porch writing this column. I am over-looking my 100-year-old oak trees just a few yards from where I sit. Birds are chirping. The early evening sky is a startling blue. And sounds of traffic just beyond my walled yard intermittently break Continue reading