Rabbi Bruce's Reflections on Life

Dear Friends and Family, As we celebrate Shabbat in the week that we commemorated MLK Day, I wanted to share some meaningful quotes from Dr. King Jr which I believe provide us some guidance for challenges with which we are dealing in our world today. First of all, Mahalia Jackson encouraged Dr. King to talk about his dream when he gave the iconic "I Have A Dream Speech."  He departed from his prepared text at one point and the rest is history.  I personally think that perhaps Mahalia's advice is important for all of us to consider.  We have our prepared speeches and thoughts about contemporary  issues ranging from the Middle East to Presidential politics.  Perhaps it is time for us to think about what our dreams are.  I believe that each of us share a dream for a more peaceful world and a world where people can talk to each other.  If I was adapting sections of the "I Have A Dream Speech" for today's world I would make the foll...

  Dear Friends, As we usher in the New Year, we celebrated by going to see the Musical "Frozen."   I was intrigued and challenged by the lyrics from the following song.  Please note the highlighted sections.  (see below). When I think about the personal challenges that people face and the societal issues that the world is wrestling with, I believe that there is wisdom in "letting it go."  In Judaism, we call "letting it go" teshuvah or repentance or making changes in our lives. I wonder how many of us can really make changes and let things go.  As I get older I see how difficult it can be to let certain things go. I also wonder whether we all hold grudges or have perspectives that we just can't relinquish.  As a teenager, my dad gave me a quote that was attributed to Eddie Robinson, a football coach at Grambling State University  who said "the key to success is the ability to adapt." Perhaps his message and the message of the song from "...