Tag Archives: death

On the 40th Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade

Posted on January 22, 2013 by James

I was still an atheist and a liberal when my wife became pregnant with our twin sons (now 26 years old). That’s when I started questioning my assumptions about abortion. From the start, my wife and I started relating emotionally … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Abortion, children, compassion, death, life, pro-choice, pro-life, roe vs wade | 11 Comments

Nobody Ought to be Alone on Christmas

Posted on December 21, 2012 by James

Things are different since you’ve been here last, Childhood dreaming is a thing of the past Maybe you can bring us some hope this year, Visions of sugar plums have disappeared I’m all grown up but I’m the same you’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alone, Christmas, death, memorial, mourning, newtown connecticut, sandy hook elementary school | 4 Comments

Asking for Help in the Aftermath of Death

Posted on December 16, 2012 by James

In this week’s reading, the time for Yosef’s redemption finally arrives. Pharoah has dreams, his sommelier (wine butler) suddenly remembers Yosef, and Yosef is hastily pulled from jail, given a haircut, and sent to interpret the dreams of Pharoah. Two weeks ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged child murder, death, God, grief, Mikeitz, Miketz, murder, newtown connecticut, sorrow | 4 Comments

A Prayer for Newtown

Posted on December 14, 2012 by James

For those who suffer, and those who cry this night, give them repose, Lord; a pause in their burdens. Let there be minutes where they experience peace, not of man but of angels. Love them, Lord, when others cannot. Hold … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged children, death, grief, human-rights, mourning, newtown connecticut, sorrow | Leave a comment

Blessings at Night and Morning

Posted on November 27, 2012 by James

A song of ascents. Praiseworthy is each person who fears HASHEM, who walks in His paths. When you eat the labor of your hands, you are praiseworthy, and it is well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ALS, bedtime shema, death, dreams, God, modeh ani, prayer, Shema | 1 Comment

Past and Future Holy

Posted on November 26, 2012 by James

There is a graphic example of this at the beginning of the book of Job. In a series of blows, Job loses everything: his flocks, his herds, his children. Yet his faith remains intact. Satan then proposes subjecting Job to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ALS, death, dying, friendship, God, holiness, loss, mortalilty, prayer | Leave a comment

Hope in Hopelessness

Posted on June 11, 2012 by James

Last week at the Western Wall, I asked an elderly man to put on tefillin. He strongly refused. I asked him, “When was the last time you put on tefillin?” He smiled and proudly said, “72 years ago!” He held … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cancer, death, dying, faith, fear, God, holocaust, hope, hopelessness | 4 Comments

Hope and Ashes

Posted on August 9, 2011 by James

I remember with perfect clarity the sensation of waking up on the morning of March 9, 1990. In those first few fuzzy moments of consciousness, I oriented myself to where I was — in the spare bedroom of my parents’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christianity, death, God, grief, Jesus, Judaism, mourning, sin, Tisha B’Av | 2 Comments

Awaiting Dawn

Posted on July 21, 2011 by James

People ask, “But how could you see so much good in the future when so much evil predominates now —-and it grows day by day?” But such is the order of things: Darkness was only placed in the world to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bible, Chabad, Chasidim, Christianity, darkness, dawn, death, faith, faithfulness, God, grief, Jesus, Judaism, life, light, light of the world, sorrow, Torah, Tree of Life, trust | 2 Comments

Sparks in a Jagged Darkness

Posted on July 19, 2011 by James

It is written in the holy Zohar that those who have their needs provided for today and sit and fret over what will be tomorrow are not being practical – they are simply incorrectly focused. Every day you are nourished … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged children, Christianity, death, faith, faithfulness, God, grief, Jesus, Judaism, loss, murder, Torah, trust | 9 Comments