I just returned from an eighteen hour trip to Brooklyn where I spent some time at our annual conference. G-d willing I plan to go back after Shabbos and will join some of the main events and sessions at the conclusion of the conference.
This morning as I walked up Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights, one could literally feel Shabbat in the air. 
Bouquets of flowers were being sold by the dozen, the smell of freshly baked Challah wafted out of the bakeries, musicians were playing in various spots on the street, booths raising funds for needy families or other causes were set up outside popular stores, groups of friends could be seen having joyful reunions as they saw each other for the first time in two years, and every s… Read More »
One of my favorite roads in Israel, is the scenic Route 1 in the area between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. Within a matter of minutes, one leaves the built-up rolling hills and mountains of Jerusalem and descends into the sandy and rocky peaks of the Judean desert. 
At 90 years old, William Shatner also known as Captain Kirk just became the oldest person to fly to space. The entire flight took just over ten minutes, as they ascended to an altitude of nearly 66 miles and spent a few minutes observing earth during the microgravity phase of the flight.
Yesterday I was in Brookline and I stopped to pick up a beautiful maple leaf to observe it's beauty. As I looked at the leaf, I was amazed to see how much detail and richness there could be within one simple leaf. The sun rays shone through the trees on to this beautiful leaf and made its colors shine even brighter.
The celebrations of Sukkot & Simchat Torah continued through most of this week, with a beautiful teen Sukkot celebration on Saturday evening (
Of course this was all followed by the great celebrations and dancing on the last days of the Chag with the Simchat Torah Celebration.