I hate Zoom services. It is very difficult for me to join them. Only part of it is the halachic implications. A year of social distancing and self-imposed lockdown has rendered me somewhat more lax than I have been in the past, particularly about electronics use. For me, COVID really hasn’t really touched my life
After an October windstorm a few years ago knocked out our power for over a week, Leah and I bought a generator. In the three years since we made that purchase, we’ve put over 100 hours on that generator. I’ve never lost power quite as much in my life as we have since moving to
In one of my last acts as a non-commissioned officer before I hang up the uniform for good, I wanted to shed some light on the absolutely horrible landscape for survivors of military sexual assault or military sexual trauma that exists in the National Guard. This is in part prompted by a soldier of similar
We’re on the exciting precipice of our strategic planning at Congregation Beth Israel in Bangor, Maine. After our friend, Dr. Amy Milligan, came in and spoke about her experiences with Temple Mishkan Israel in Selma, Alabama, it resonated with more than a few of us, I think, of the consequences of not taking a considered and
We’ve been living in Maine for three years now. Our house search culminated around this time three years ago when we found our Winterport acreage and perhaps one of the most unique A-frame layouts imaginable (that’s three stories, with second and third story lofts). We put Pennsylvania Amish country, which is itself a unique place
No, I’m not making a Game of Thrones reference, unless I’m skiing like there’s a hot Targaryen at the bottom of the ski hill. I’ve been a telemark skier for about 23 years. I’ve done alpine and I’m fine with it, and I’m mildly curious about splitboarding, but telemarking has become special to me. I
I was a little despondent when Nick Isgro was elected to be the Maine GOP’s vice chairman last week. I don’t know him personally, so I can’t say whether I like or dislike him, but I’m troubled any time someone with a profoundly milquetoast resume waxes “tough guy” on social media using a lexicon enjoyed
This has for us been the most engaged week of Chanukah in a long time. We had a friend’s family over for the second night, we went to Chabad’s lighting and party in downtown Bangor, we had 11 friends over last night, and after the Chanukah party at our shul on Sunday, we’re enjoying the
I received the death notice about Morris Merlin today from our synagogue, and my heart is broken. I couldn’t take Morris on social media. He was too much. He hated Donald Trump and the people that voted for them. He hated libertarianism. He hated that I ran as a Republican for State House. I didn’t
Victory in defeat, there is none higher. She didn’t give up, Ben; she’s still trying to lift that stone after it has crushed her. She’s a father working while cancer eats away his insides, to bring home one more pay check. She’s a twelve-year-old trying to mother her brothers and sisters because mama had to
Writer, President of Bangor's Congregation Beth Israel, soldier, programmer, father, musician, Heeb, living in the woods of Maine with three ladies and a dog.
Director of Education for Congregation Beth Israel in Bangor, Maine, special educator and former school board member, mother to Amelia and Nezzie.
