Opening Up Slightly Provides Noticeable Improvement in Mood [Chaplaincy Chronicles]
Having mentioned previously about the surprise COVID-19 case we had at the senior living facility where I work, I have some follow-up to the story, which is that there’s good news and there’s bad news. The good news was that the case was confined to just one particular resident, andContinue Reading
Gleaning Insightful Historical Contexts About Jewish Health-Care Chaplaincy [Chaplaincy Reflection]
Having mentioned previously that I am commonly asked by chaplain colleagues “Have you done CPE?”, I would be interested to engage in CPE training…when they become available to do so, as long as my current job allows me to do so. One thing I came across that I have foundContinue Reading
Star Wars and Judaism Series Completed
This past Sunday marked the conclusion of my summer “Star Wars and Judaism” series, in which I held live Zoom sessions over the course of a dozen consecutive weeks. Taking place on Sunday evenings from late May through this past Sunday, I put together source sheets on Sefaria and heldContinue Reading
Newest Jewish Drinking Podcast Episode Published on Yalta’s Wine-Destroying [Berakhot 51b]
On the newest release amongst Jewish Drinking.com’s podcast/video episodes, Alieza Salzberg Yizhar joins me on the show to discuss a particular incident in the Talmud where Yalta destroys 400 jugs of wine (see below for text from the Babylonian Talmud on this incident). She teaches Talmud at the Conservative YeshivaContinue Reading
A Challenge With Developing Relationships [Chaplaincy Reflection]
Working with different generations in different stages in life is, as you can imagine, quite a different experience for a rabbi. Of course, there are similarities, including conversational skills and approachability, amongst others. Yet, having previously worked with those in the Millenial Generation while they were college students [and youngContinue Reading
[The First] Tisha b’Av During Coronavirus Season
I don’t know what Tisha b’Av is typically like at the senior living facility where I am presently working, but I suspect that this year’s Tisha b’Av was certainly markedly different than any that had preceded it. In my email to the department heads at the senior living facility atContinue Reading
“Star Wars & Judaism XII: The Rise of Skywalker” Zoom Session This Sunday Evening
The twelfth in a twelve-part Star Wars & Judaism series will be taking place this Sunday evening. Taking place at 8pm over Zoom, “Star Wars & Judaism XII: The Rise of Skywalker“ will incorporate scenes from The Rise of Skywalker. Comparing scenes from The Rise of Skywalker with Biblical andContinue Reading
40th Episode of the Jewish Drinking Podcast
The 40th episode of the Jewish Drinking podcast/video series was published today on the topic of Drinking During The Nine Days. A new aspect of this episode that I had not yet done in any of the previous episodes was to host a live discussion on texts, inviting folks toContinue Reading
Passwords [Chaplaincy Reflection]
Having written previously about technological issues in a broad sense when it comes to the Silent Generation, many of whom make up the generational demographic in senior living facilities, a specific instance of a technological barrier comes in the form of passwords. Yes, passwords – that staple of contemporary adultingContinue Reading
Considering Elders’ Ages in the Thought of Yehudah, son of Tema
In my current position as a chaplain in a senior living facility, I have returned to a familiar text, about which I hadn’t considered a certain section (Avot 5.24): הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר בֶּן חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים לַמִּקְרָא בֶּן עֶשֶׂר לַמִּשְׁנָה בֶּן שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה לַמִּצְוֹת בֶּן חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה לַתַּלְמוּד בֶּן שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵהContinue Reading