In this weeks parsha, poor Jacob goes through a lot of trials. First, he has to flee his home under threat of violence from his brother. Then, he sleeps on a rock and wrestles with an angel, earning him the name Israel and a wound he carries the rest of his life. When he does … Continue reading Vayeitzei, Cancer, and the Power of Laughter
When my children were babies, I used to catch myself staying awake even though I was exhausted just to watch them sleeping. I'd marvel at their perfection and I would have this feeling of not wanting to miss a single moment. I wanted to make time stand still and memorize every feature of them. Since … Continue reading Asher Yotzar and Watching Him Sleep
It's a word that cuts through all other noise, that stops one story and begins a new page. It's the word I was struggling to process this last Wednesday, as Mr. Safek lay drowsy in front of me. We'd come in for a colonoscopy to explain some symptoms he'd been having and we were leaving … Continue reading Cancer
