If I had a hero in my life, it was Bernard Lown. I was one year into my medical education when I “met” him, by way of discovering his book, The Lost Art of Healing, in a Half-Price Books on McKnight Road on my way to Montreal in the year of the millenium. That chance meeting was the real beginning of my medical career, whatever other stories I might tell to the contrary.
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The sacrifices we make to care for our loved ones can have generational consequences.
Fill in the blank in this popular saying:
“Silence is _________.”
I would wager that if you are of my parents’ generation, an early Boomer or older, you answered “golden.” The adage conjures images of whispering in libraries and children being seen, but not heard. My children’s generation and the one immediately preceding it, the millennial and post-millennial cohorts, answered “assent.” They disdain silence, because it is the posture of those who sit on the sidelines while racism, sexual assault, environmental destruction and economic exploitation proceed unchecked. One generation’s gold is another’s guilt.
I am in my late forties, a Gen-Xer stuck in the sandwich between these two generations, paralyzed into involuntary silence by not knowing what to say, how to say it or whether anyone wants to hear what I have to say to begin with. I feel golden and guilty all at once.
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As promised, my latest blog from Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle/Times of Israel, about seeing the end when you’re stuck in the middle.
It’s been a long year. For the last couple months I’ve fallen silent, no small feat for me. Nothing I had to say seemed equal to the task of the chaos around me.
I think I’ve found my tongue again. The Nishmat prayer that paves the way into the main section of Shabbat morning services refers to Hashem as mekitz nirdamim, mesiah ilemim – the One who wakes the dreamers and gives voice to the speechless. I’m feeling more awake than I have in a long time, and plan to be sharing a lot more material over the coming months here on this website and over my social media channels, where most of you will probably be reading this, starting with my newest installment of my Times of Israel blog, which is actually about mekitz nirdamim, waking the dreamers. That should post by tomorrow.
I haven’t been completely idle; aside from my day job I’ve actually had a few speaking engagements lately. Check out the Events page to see what I’ve been up to despite the pandemic, and “where” I’ll be next. There are at least two talks coming up in February and March, and I’m always open to discussing new virtual events (and eventually in-person ones) if you’re interested. Tag me on one of the social media platforms and we’ll talk, or email [email protected].
Where did this return of energy come from? Who knows. Maybe Hashem decided to give me a reprieve – or maybe it was the new puppy.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-modern-man-of-sodom/
As the second yahrzeit of the Tree of Life terror attack approaches, the people of Sodom live on in our midst – but we can stand together as anti-Sodomites even in the face of their brutality.
Don’t say enable, say ennoble. My latest blog post for TOI/PJC about Noah, wine, and coping with life’s worst hardships. https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/bottle-of-wine-fruit-of-the-vine/
First new piece of the new Jewish Year: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/winds-of-mercy/
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/choosing-life-by-burying-the-dead/ The pandemic has changed everything about life – and death. My latest blog post for the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle about how our New Community Chevra Kadisha is being affected – and hopefully, about how some of you can help.
From my Times of Israel/Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle blog – remember when “privilege” wasn’t a bad word? Here’s how to think about it in a positive light again. It is a privilege to be able to share these words with you: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-privilege-of-a-treasured-possession/