The Sukkot Balloon

You probably heard the news story from today about a runaway hot air balloon that drifted across Colorado, between Fort Collins and Denver, and how everybody believed a six-year-old boy was trapped on it.  Thankfully he wasn’t there, but hiding in the attic of his garage after turning the balloon loose.  Anyway, it reminded me [...]

Read Full Post »

How Would You Introduce Jesus?

I was just referred to this video by an online friend, Helena Lehman.  Leive and I used to watch Steve Harvey when we lived in Florida.  I particularly liked his variety show.  He is always good for a laugh, but this presentation, where he was quite serious, may be his best of all.
[...]

Read Full Post »

What a Lot of Red Tape just to Transfer a Car’s Title!

I’ve had my mother’s car here in Kentucky for nine months, but it took until yesterday to get the paperwork approved, so I can get a license plate and have the title transferred to me.  Before I went down to Florida to pick up the car last December, my Dad did everything he was supposed [...]

Read Full Post »

Happy Sukkot, and More on the Joseph-Era Coins

Chag Sameach!  Tonight is Erev Sukkot, the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles.  Today I called one of the folks at the Hebraic church I used to attend in Florida, and he said they’ve got the Sukkah and the tents ready.  Yes, that was always a fun weekend for my family.  They’ll probably have falafel [...]

Read Full Post »

Joseph’s Coins?

First, an update to the previous message.  Do football games ever get rained out? I guess I’ll find out today. It rained all night (with lightning), it’s raining now, and there’s an 80% chance of rain for the rest of the day, so I don’t think it will dry out in time for the game between [...]

Read Full Post »

Shana Tova, 5770!

Yes, tonight is that time of the year again.  Here are the card and video I shared last Rosh Hashanah; I never get tired of them.  An online friend, Helena Lehman, also sent me an e-card with a nice Flash animation; if I can post that here, I will.
I’ve been quiet here for the [...]

Read Full Post »

Happy Centennial, Tel Aviv!

I was just reminded that 2009 marks one hundred years since Tel Aviv, modern Israel’s first all-Jewish city, was founded, on the sandhills north of a far older city, Jaffa.  The actual founding is tied to an event called the Great Shell Lottery, which happened on the second day of passover in 1909.  That means [...]

Read Full Post »

He’s the Pharaoh of Pop, Not the King

Well, according to yesterday’s news, Michael Jackson was finally buried, exactly seventy days after his death.  They say the burial was delayed because of numerous autopsies and disputes over where he would be laid to rest, but I can’t help but be reminded of how in ancient Egypt, funerals also took place seventy days after [...]

Read Full Post »

Lindy and Adam, It Has Been Nice Having You Here

This is Tisha B’Av, the 9th of Av on the Jewish calendar.  Normally I would have talked about that, but we’ve been busy entertaining Lindy and Adam while they are in Lexington, so go to my message from July 24, 2007, to read about Tisha B’Av.  Family members and friends reading this will probably be [...]

Read Full Post »

Mr. President, Let My People Stay!

Oh, boy, some Israelis are hitting Obama where it really hurts — in the ego.  You may remember how in 2005, in a move for peace, then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon dismantled all Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, and a few in the West Bank, and relocated the inhabitants elsewhere.  How did that go?  Not [...]

Read Full Post »