In our society, when we are introduced to new people, the conversation usually goes like this, “What is your name?” and then followed by “What do you do?”
Usually the response is something similar.
My name is …. And I am an Electrician, a Stock Broker, a Realtor, a Developer or an Attorney….
Great… now we have a name and a definition of what the person is about.
However this may be true to a degree, yet at the same time, is this the end all?
Perhaps we need to ask ourselves, how are we viewing and defining people and perhaps to the same degree, how do we view and define ourselves?
Does our profession define who we truly are, both in the way we view ourselves and in the way others view us?… Read More »
According to a 2018 large-scale survey from a major health care provider, a huge chunk of Americans suffer from strong feelings of loneliness and a lack of significance in their relationships. Almost half say they sometimes or always feel alone or “left out”, and 13% of Americans say that zero people know them well. The survey points out that loneliness seems to be getting worse in each successive generation even though we live in a world that is more interconnected than ever before.
One of the biggest challenges facing our generation is the issue of Mental Health and its ramifications on individuals, families and communities. Studies show that 44 Million American Adults have been diagnosed with a Mental Health issue and a staggering 12% of youth in this country, a number which continues to climb. 
Last night Dr. David Rosmarin gave a fascinating interactive lecture and presentation on the topic of Spirituality & Mental Health and what Science has to say about this. The lecture was extremely informative with lots of evidence based data and anecdotes on this important topic and how it plays out in one of the most foremost issues facing our communities in the 21st century.
David H. Rosmarin, PhD, ABPP is director of the Spirituality and Mental Health Program at McLean Hospital and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He supervises the provision of… 
Do you like the movies of Issur Danielovitch Demsky (Kirk Douglas)? Were you fascinated by the tricks of Ehrich Weiss (Harry Houdini)? Did you enjoy Lawrence Harvey Zeigler Live on CNN (Larry King)? Do you like any of the films directed by Allan Stewart Konigsberg (Woody Allen)?
This morning as I was wrapped in my Talit and Tefillin and doing my morning prayers, my little two year old daughter got out of bed and came downstairs. Instinctively she came over to me and without saying a word, she raised both her arms and I bent down and picked her up and put her on my lap. She just wanted a simple morning cuddle and hug while I swayed back and forth and prayed and thanked G-d for moments like these and for all the blessings that we have in our lives.
Thank you to the hundreds of people who were able to participate in our Chanukah Programs in the run up and on Chanukah.
On Thanksgiving weekend, there is lots of discussion and conversation about the many benefits of being thankful. Studies have shown that being thankful comes with lots of health and other benefits, including having healthier relationships, better self esteem, healthier living and so much more.
On Saturday after the services at our Synagogue, I noticed a bouquet of flowers that had been left by some friendly neighbors, with a note stating that they were thinking of us. My mind started turning as I realized that something ominous must have happened, yet on the Sabbath I don’t use electronics and had no idea what might have occurred.
They say that Italian guests leave without saying goodbye, but Jewish guests say goodbye but then they don’t know how to leave.
This morning, I plugged in my phone into the charger and checked back thirty minutes later and realized that the battery level had gone up just 3%. I quickly checked what is going on and shut down all running apps, but it didn’t seem to be the problem. I then discovered that somehow I wasn’t using the factory issued charger that came with my Galaxy phone, but rather was using a cheaper version that I had once bought as an extra, that looked almost like the original. I also realized that the cable I was using was not the original cable, so I quickly switched and puff, five minutes later the phone was filling up with juice ten times faster than it had been.
When most people hear the expression about “seeing light at the end of the tunnel” they think of the light and instant exit from a challenging situation. However they say that worrying Jewish mothers usually think of the light at the end of the tunnel as being the headlights of a train barreling towards them and about to run them down.
I was recently visiting a relative in NY who showed me this little gadget which can change the colors of light that are coming out of a light bulb in his kitchen. For some added fun, the light bulb can also stream music straight from their Spotify music list. These days with gadgets like these or using Alexa or other similar devices, one simply issues an instruction like, “turn on the lights” or “turn on the music”, and a second later the lights are on and lit up or the music is blasting.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the many Sukkot Celebrations we hosted over the last few days. It started on Sunday evening as dozens joined us for a beautiful and memorable Sukkot Dinner under the stars and then the fun continued throughout Sukkot and especially 
the CTeen Kickoff Event, young children with the Sukkot Story Hour, older children with the Sports & BBQ at the Sukkah and adults with the Sushi in the Sukkah.
Thank you to Dr Sasha & Angela… 
What an incredible Yom Kippur! Thank you to the hundreds of adults and children who came through our doors over the course of Yom Kippur. From the moving start of Kol Nidrei, to the packed morning and Yizkor services, to the full house for the inspiring Neilah Closing Prayer, you all helped make Yom Kippur such an inspiring and powerful community experience.