Rabbi Bruce's Reflections on Life

 Dear Friends, As I commemorate 21 weeks since Sue passed away, I decided to address the elephant in the room. I have tried to avoid confronting theological issues since I am so conflicted.  But here goes since this week I began teaching my Bible as Literature class at George Mason University and we read the book of Job and will be reading about Jacob and Esau. Jacob sat alone, contemplating his reunion with Esau.  He fought an angel or G-d or his conscience.  They fought and fought and at the end there were no winners and Jacob's name changed to Israel, one who struggles with G-d.  Jacob asks for a blessing.  Maybe the blessing is to wrestle with G-d and yet...  he emerges wounded and then confronts his brother and you can read the rest of the story in the book of Genesis. I have always wondered  what it would be like to wrestle with G-d.  I have been blessed my entire life and with rare exceptions, have never really had personal cause to qu...

  Dear Friends, I continue to appreciate that you are accompanying me on my grief journey. Your wisdom and continuing support are integral to my healing and thanks for being there to read these blogs and comment as you wish. I value your insights, hugs, jokes, and words of comfort. I was speaking with someone who told me that in Psalm 23 it says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...." It does not say one should get stuck in the valley of the shadow of death, but rather to walk through it and hopefully emerge into a world where we are able to acknowledge that "my cup runneth over, sure goodness and kindness will follow  me all the days of my life." As we mark 20 weeks since Sue passed away, I think about how there are times I feel stuck in the valley of the shadow of death and how goodness and kindness may be Divine attempts to move me through the valley.  Surely, many of you are showing me that goodness and kindness. I am reminded of the ...

Dear Friends,  The weekly Scripture/Torah  reading that we are reading today is from the book of Deuteronomy in the Portion Ekev. The following is a post from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks about this portion and expresses the power of gratitude.  You can access the entire article by searching for Jonathan Sacks on Eikev which will have the footnotes. In the early 1990s, one of the great medical research exercises of modern times took place. It became known as the Nun Study. Some seven hundred American nuns, all members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in the United States, agreed to allow their records to be accessed by a research team investigating the process of ageing and Alzheimer’s Disease. At the start of the study the participants were aged between 75 and 102.[1]What gave this study its unusual longitudinal scope is that sixty years earlier the very same nuns had been asked by their Mother Superior to write a brief autobiographical account of their life and their reasons...

Dear Friends, I decided to write one more blog this week as today was 18 weeks from the actual family funeral for Sue. I don't know how long I will continue to write these grieving logs because of something that happened last night. As I put into the subject, there are simple things that make for precious moments. Last night when I sat next to a granddaughter with whom Sue had a very special relationship as the oldest granddaughter I felt Sue's presence next to me, I finally understood the meaning of the following prayer with which many of you are familiar that was written by Rabbis Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Riemer. ‘We Remember Them’ by Rabbis Sylvan Kamens & Jack Riemer At the rising sun and at its going down; We remember them. At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter; We remember them. At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring; We remember them. At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer; We remember them. At the...

 Dear Friends, 18 weeks ago today life changed forever for our family and for me.  The moments continue to be intense and the recollections are filled with love.  One of you told me that bank accounts close, but love accounts remain open forever. Who would have thought that mild chest pain would be a sign that an aorta was about to burst? As I continue to struggle with the grief and embrace the love and support I am receiving, I want to reiterate my gratitude to so many of you who continue to accompany me on this journey.  I hope you will continue to bear with the ups and downs and that I am not becoming a burden. You can always delete these messages:-) In preparation for the Jewish New Year next month, I was reading the following from a prayer entitled "We are Clay." We are the rudder You are the helmsman Who steers us to the left or to the right Direct us to the shore you choose Do not let us idly spin Even if we consistently resist your grasp. Remem...

 Dear Friends, As the calendar turns to August and I continue to travel to see family and friends, folks keep being so supportive and for this I continue to be grateful.  I am so blessed that you have not forgotten about me and continue to support me. In commemorating Tisha B'Av tonight, a day set aside on the Jewish calendar to remember the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem and other tragedies in Jewish life, I wanted to share what I hope is an uplifting thought. At a Jewish wedding the groom (and occasionally the bride and groom) break a glass at the conclusion of the ceremony.  This reminds them and us that there are moments of sadness in our lives, dreams that shatter, and that the Jewish people and all of us have endured challenges in our lives..  Immediately after the glass is broken, those in attendance shout mazel tov to remind us that there is hope and joy even in the midst of sorrow. Last night I hosted a Shabbat dinner for almost 20 pe...