This is not the blog I expected to write the first week of school. However, the death – and life – of Senator John McCain is so significant to me that I felt compelled to write about him; not about … Read More
Character
It’s Called Growing Up
This is a story about a man who married his childhood sweetheart, and soon after the marriage began, a series of journeys influenced his world view. Soon after marriage, his mother-in–law became very ill, and four years later, at the … Read More
Embracing “The Politics of Hope”
What is the difference between a contract and a covenant? Our times require us to examine that difference, and to understand it as a step in reclaiming the higher moral ground in our communities, country and abroad. We need to … Read More
The Future We Want for Our Children Starts with Us!
There are times in our lives when we cannot be silent. For me, this is one of those times. This is the season of lights. Jews are currently celebrating Hanukkah by lighting candles for eight nights to celebrate the victory … Read More
Hope in These Challenging Times
I am a news junky, and I have to break the habit before serious depression sets in. Corruption, income inequality, sexual harassment, threat of war, uncivil discourse, potential foreign interference in our elections, an assault on free speech. And that … Read More
Wrong, Wrong and Wrong Again!
Over the weekend, I read the New York Times bestselling book, “The Subtle Art of Not Giving A…: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life,” written by Mark Manson. In it, he points to studies that show the human … Read More
We Are Just a Speck and…
The other morning I was watching the news (a daily mistake) and was overwhelmed by how small I felt. Hurricane Harvey had just ravaged Houston, and Irma was on the footsteps of Florida. There were the social and political issues … Read More
The Power Within Us
Our words and actions can impact the entire world – really! A kind word or an act of helpfulness in a child’s life or an adult’s life can literally change the trajectory of that person’s path, and we may never … Read More
The Whole is Greater than the Parts
Anyone who has been to school knows it is a microcosm of society that allows children to practice becoming successful adults. It is where they learn not only facts and figures, and other academic skills, but also where they learn … Read More
ANSWERING THE CALL TO SERVICE
By Michael Schostak, Hillel graduate (1993), husband of Alexis, and father of current Hillel students, Hayley (K) and Benji (ECC-2). When we retell the Passover story at our Seders this year, we will no doubt talk about Moses and his … Read More