Rabbi Bruce's Reflections on Life

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...

Dear Friends, The year long journey from the ER to the OR to mourning and grief, toward silent shrieks and loud screams to a funeral and cemetery, to countless acts of kindness, to meeting angels sent by G-d or Sue, or who are just here and I didn't see them,  took me to the shore of the Red Sea last Wednesday morning.  The Scriptural reading for the seventh day of Passover is from the Book of Exodus and includes reading the Song at the Sea when Miriam celebrates freedom with music and dance. So, as I write this blog which will be the basis of the conclusion of the book which will contain these blogs and which is currently being edited by a very special student (maybe another angel?), I reflect on where I have been and where I am going. Many mornings as part of the religious service that I attend periodically by zoom, we often read the Biblical verses that say "I place before you the blessing and the curse, life and death, therefore choose life." It is more than past ...

Dear Friends and Family, I have asked this question many times throughout the past year..."Who knew????" It was a normal (whatever that means) day on April 1, 2025. I was sitting on the loveseat, Sue was sitting at the dining room table, and who knew that this would be Sue's last full day of life as we knew it???? I was on the phone with our insurance agent and after I told her a joke, she said she had told clients that she has a client who told good jokes. I put her on speaker and asked her to repeat that for Sue. I said to Sue that even our insurance agent liked my jokes and Sue just nodded her head. Then the insurance agent called out "April Fools" and I realized that I had been set up for an April fools joke about her telling people that I told good jokes. Sue thought that was very funny (I may never recover:-)) and then I left to teach and Sue went to the dentist to see if her mouth pain was a dental issue. I came back later that night (who knew ...