(note: you don't have to be Jewish for this to be helpful to you...take what you like and leave the rest ( Read more... )

On Sunday mornings at 10, our local community radio station has a program called "The Yiddish Hour," where lots of klezmer music and other music in Yiddish and Hebrew is played.  Today, the host talked a little about my rabbi and featured some of his music.  It was beautiful and stirring to hear his voice, and also to hear others' voices singing ( Read more... )

Just over a month ago, Reb Aryeh presided over the unveiling of the headstone* of our dear friend Ayla.  (Who would have guessed this would be his last time performing this service?  Or that he would be the next to be buried in our cemetary?)  The friend who selected the headstone talked a bit about it, how she chose the phrase and decoration for ( Read more... )

Just back from the congregation's gathering to cry and sing and cry and talk and cry.  Very emotional, and I still don't have words to put on what this amazing teacher and peaceworker has meant in my life.

We heard a bit more about what happened.  Still no major details, but apparently the rabbi and his wife and the twins had taken a dinghy not very ( Read more... )

I just found out my rabbi died in a scuba snorkeling accident.

[EDIT: more current information is that it was snorkeling, not scuba...whatever the activity was, he drowned in Mexico on vacation, having just celebrated his oldest son's wedding.  His wife and twin sons (age 7?) will be back in Portland as soon as they can.]