Rabbi Bruce's Reflections on Life

Dear Friends and Family, As we prepare to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States, I am preparing to commemorate the 28th and 25th anniversaries of my parents' passing. I am grateful for the love and guidance they provided me and in some spiritual way, hope that along with Sue, her parents, and other special family members they are together and rooting for the first place White Sox (I just had to write that since it has been an infrequent occurrence in the past few years (or decades or centuries, or millenia:-)) I will let others comment on America's birthday and the challenges we face as a nation. I will be reflecting upon a number of recent revelations. First of all, as a response to a suggestion by a dear friend recently a group of us celebrated Sue and my 50th wedding anniversary locally by attending the show, "The Music Man." I had forgotten that one of the songs was the following" ""Til There Was You" There were bells o...

Dear Sue, There ia so much I want to tell you, Sue. Happy Anniversary. 50 years, Sue...Sunrise, sunset, swiftly flow the years. One season following another laden with happiness and tears.(from Sunrise Sunset, Fiddler on the Roof) Sue, it wasn't a resort where we were all away for a few days but we were all together in our children's homes and everyone was interacting with each other and well you would have kvelled (rejoiced) and yeah, Sue, you would have cried tears of joy and graittude. When I returned, a dear friend asked me what you would have been wearing and I told her a flowered dress. She asked me to dance with you and as you and I hugged each other in our hearts we celebrated the beauty which we built together. The friend then brought out champaign glasses and we toasted with sparkling lemonade the love we shared that built a sacred family. The friend then surprised me (how she knew this I will never know) with Elite Chocolate from Israel that was our favor...

Dear Family and Friends, Please know as I write this on May 22, 2026, the night before what is Sue and my 50th wedding anniversary, I am surrounded by our children and grandchildren. Although this final chapter in my year of grieving from just before Passover of last year through Shavuot of this year (one can look up descriptions of these Festivals by doing an internet search)  is intensely emotional, I am okay. Those who read these blogs (and I am deeply appreciative of all of you who have told me you read them and particularly to those of you who have supported me in so many profound ways), you know I write them as a catharsis. Tonight is immensely emotional and of all the moments I have missed Sue, tonight may be the time I miss her the most.  So here goes as I try to put into words the feelings that are permeating my soul. Shavuot is known as the time of the giving of the !0 Commandments and in Hebrew the words are "zman matan Torah" the gift of receiving the Torah....

Dear Family and Friends, I was speaking with someone who has become a dear friend, about how to celebrate Sue and my 50th wedding anniversary. Last year in lieu of celebrating the anniversary, when our kids and grandkids came together, we celebrated May birthdays. My friend told me that it was very important to celebrate our anniversary since we are still married to each other even if she is no longer in this world. She certainly lives in my heart. So...the favor...This friend suggested collecting memories for what will become either a memory wall, a scrapbook, or part of the book which I am putting together with the help of a student of these blogs. If you are reading this (and I hope you are), could you send me a memory by email at rabbibruce@gmail.com with the subject "memories of Sue" so I can search for them since I will be traveling. A number of you reading these blogs knew Sue and some of you know her from stories I have told. Perhaps you could share a mem...

Dear Sue, It has been a year since we celebrated your life and every day, I celebrate what you meant and mean and will always mean to me. I confess that last night was harder than I thought it would be.  We started a tradition of having s'mores in honor of Lag B'Omer (folks can look up the custom of bonfires on My Jewish Learning.com and we have added making s'mores) because of a precious experience with one of our grandchildren. Sue, you know who I am talking about and how special that trip was for all of us.  As I was taking Mimi to the metro yesterday morning for a tour of the Capitol (she is really into learning and teaching as part of her tour director career and you would be thrilled) , the following song came on the satellite radio.  I have come to believe over the past year in the symbolism of special moments and Sue, I can't help falling in love with you (each day since you passed away...do you know that I am writing this????) (Please put this in your bro...

Dear Friends and Family, It has been awhile since I have written and as I sit here tonight, I am thinking about what has changed and what has stayed the same. I have found that I whistle this song almost every day. (See below) I think the reference to track is a reminder of my roots as the son of a railroader. I think the reference to roaming is all the time I spent serving others when I might have spent more time with Sue and our children. I think that I would trade so much to be able to journey forward with Sue and have come to realize that she will never disappear from my heart. As we prepare to place the marker by Sue's grave in what will be a private moment for me, I treasure the words that will live in perpetuity at the grave and in my soul. Still sparkling, always, kind...you are my beloved, you are my friend... These are the words that folks will see when they visit the cemetery as the days and years go by. I will probably write again in a few weeks since M...