Category: Lectures

When Was the Last Time a Rabbi Prayed at a Presidential Inauguration? By Rachel Gordan | January 15, 2013  Last week, President Obama’s inaugural committee caused quite a stir after it announced who would be praying during the president’s second inauguration. Myrlie Evers-Williams, the widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, would give the…

Hidden, Lost and Forgotten Assets

  How many readers have made list of assets and liabilities that they have given to the executor of their will.  Only 30% of Americans have a will, and I venture to guess that many fewer have made this list for the executor.  More than ever, you risk losing your assets after your death for…

  When I light Shabbos candles each week, I bring the extra soul of Shabbos into my heart and home.  But there is a prayer attached to lighting candles that asks G-d to bless all our close ones, family and friends.  You send messages of light and soul out to others and ask that they…

  It’s on its way. The weekend that never has enough Sundays. There is so much you want to accomplish on any given Sunday, or in the reverse, so much relaxing you want to catch up on. Yet on this particular Sunday that’s not happening!  Because that, all important, event takes precedence.   You need…

Alzheimers: Moved

  “Who are you?” Mrs. Q asked?  “I am your attorney, Lenore Davis,” I replied.  I had been her attorney for 20 years.  She was a genteel 75 year old woman, with a fascinating story as a Holocaust survivor.  Every few years she would come to me to update her estate plan.  She would update…

  Have you ever been that person on the plane? You know, the one uncomfortably squished next to someone you didn’t know. Have you ever walked into an elevator followed by one other person and then had the door shut. And suddenly it was just you and a stranger. Awkward silence? Yes – these are…

So what makes it a holiday? Every single week you’re cooking a chicken. So now you’re cooking a bigger chicken?! Maybe it seems different because you leave out the kugel and replace it with a pumpkin pie? Or maybe it’s just nice to be together with family during the week in a nice formal way?…

Did you ever really understand the saying, “One man’s meat is another man’s poison”? Well, this week I think it really came to light in stereo. Actually maybe even in surround sound. It seemed one man’s ‘celebrated winning candidate’ was another man’s ‘nightmare on steroids’. The rejoicing and revolts were of mutual intensity. How should…