Blog
Words of wisdom and inspiration.
Celebrating Realistically Across The Miles
Dear Friends: I hope this message finds you growing in strength, moment by moment, as we face the future! Togetherness from afar has many of us grappling with change. The yearning to connect in our familiar ways is a very real struggle and the consequences of non-compliance is (at best) harsh. Being alone is not in […]
I Thought I Had More Time
Dear Friends: For more than the past month, I have been preparing because I know the consequences of not being prepared. You see I lost my Hurricane Andrew so my preparedness began by seeing China as the storm watch, then Italy as the storm warning. Those of us familiar with these terms know that watches and warnings precede the […]
Let Your Words Be Few
Dear Friends: I hope this message finds you in good health and spirits. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that actions speak louder than words and may not know that the Talmud backs us up with this: “Let your words be few”. Rabbis of ancient times taught and believed that humans are driven by two […]
Protections from COVID-19
Dear Friends: I hope this message finds you in good health and spirits. First of all, I appreciate those who read and responded positively to my last email THE CONTROL FACTOR. I admit it’s not my style to intersect politics with religion, however “when the shoe fits”… And before I move on to ideas of protection from COVID-19, […]
The Healing Power of Trees
Dear Friends: Tomorrow night begins the Jewish celebration of the trees, Tu B’ Shevat. If you are one who loves nature, then you have a unique opportunity to experience the healing power of trees beginning tonight. Collectively, on Tu B’Shevat, we will acknowledge the importance of trees and their holy reminder and presence of G-d in […]
Elevating My Father’s Soul
Elevating the Neshamah (soul) of my father Bert Bernstein, Pinchas Ben Hyman Samuel, Z”L on his Yahrzeit, (anniversary of his passing). He began his return home, motzei shabbat (after the close of Shabbat), the night before Hanukkah in 2015. We light a remembrance candle in his honor, we remember him, motzei shabbos, the night before […]
A Humane Approach to Thanksgiving
Dear friends: I hope this message finds you in good health and spirits. Seeing that Thanksgiving is upon us, I wanted to share thoughts on what a humane approach to Thanksgiving might be. I’m not just talking about being kind to one another and such. I’m talking a bit about our plan as it relates […]
A Meaningful Blessing on Veterans Day
May this message bring you, a meaningful blessing on Veterans Day Thank you to all the great veterans that allow all of us to support humanity in freedom. I/We humbly remember you and honor your dedication. Many have benefitted from your devotion Many are grateful for all you’ve given. We remember your sacrifice […]
Why I Wrote My Own Funeral
This past summer I sought a therapeutic process of writing my own funeral. Now I want to share why I wrote my own funeral. I got the idea of doing this due to my experience of guiding people through the funeral process of a loved one. When a loved one dies, the experience of urgency […]
The Impermanence of Succot
Dear friends: I hope this message finds you well and is received in the spirit of which it is offered. I’d like to speak to the jewish perspective on impermanence, specifically because Succot begins tomorrow night and offers us a fresh view of life and the celebration of it. Impermanence means that not all things are […]
As We Face the One Judge
As Yom Kippur approaches, may all of Israel have an easy and meaningful fast in facing the One Judge who holds us close to his heart. All of Israel is a term used to remind us that we are all responsible for one another. Hence, all of Israel is one body and each of us […]
L’shanah tovah! May it be a good and sweet year!
Dear Friends: I hope & pray this message finds you in good health and spirits. Rosh Hashanah is the ultimate celebration of the birthday of the world. It’s a time of deep reflection and sweet renewal and it begins sundown, on September 29th. The time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is known as the […]