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
Amelia and I undertook our first real serious Maine hike together over Thanksgiving weekend. We went to Sears Island, walked along the shoreline, and talked about the deep things that Amelia likes to let out on long hikes. This is an amazing honor roll student. This is a kid that is already formulating her plans
Amelia and I went on one final backpacking trip this past summer before we moved to Maine. We took our big, loyal, and lovable Great Dane, Herschel, with us to the Pine Grove Furnace section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. Starting from the state park, we made our way to a nearby pad-site /
I grew up in the City of Lancaster in Pennsylvania. I went to a city school. I had city friends. People tend to think of Lancaster as a bucolic Amish paradise, but the city itself is old with urban demographics. The neighborhood I grew up in is now predominantly multi-tenant, low income rentals, rather than
Zeno of Elea made a series of arguments against Aristotle’s observations of motion. My favorite of his arguments is the dichotomy paradox, but today, we’re on his arrow paradox. For an arrow to move, said Zeno, it must change positions. Since time is composed of instants, and at each instant, the arrow is not moving,
What a long day in the car! We did our final pack early in the morning on Sunday, and were on the road by 8:15am. With rest stops, food breaks, and gas, we ended up taking 14 hours to arrive, getting in at 9:45pm last night. I had Amelia and Nezzie in my car. Leah
Writer, President of Bangor's Congregation Beth Israel, retired soldier, programmer, father, musician, Heeb, living in the woods of Maine with three ladies and a dog. Brian is also a rabbinical student with the Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary.
Director of Education for Congregation Beth Israel in Bangor, Maine, runs joint religious school with our sister congregation, special educator and former school board member, mother to Avi and Nezzie.
