Stories,photos

139 results total, viewing 1 - 10

Love, life and Judaism together after 70 years

I had the great privilege of interviewing Manny and Rita Stern, parents of David Stern, long-term member of Temple Emanu-El of Providence. David has co-led the drumming and chanting service at the Soulful Shabbat services and now drums and blows the shofar on the High Holy Day services.

David brings his parents, who live in New York, to the High Holy Day services and I was so inspired to see them and watch his father Manny read the Haftorah. It brought me back to the days when my father, in his nineties, read the Haftorah at services.

Patricia Raskin | 11/3/24

The importance of tzedakah over the High Holy Days

The High Holy Days gives us a special opportunity for introspection, to reflect on the past year and set intentions and goals for the next year. The concept of tzedakah (charitable giving) is a core … more

Patricia Raskin | 10/8/24

The High Holy Days – a time for reflection and recommitment

The High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur give us the opportunity every year to recommit to meaningful lives. This includes self-renewal, embracing themes of revitalization, … more

Patricia Raskin | 9/6/24

Reflections on going back to school

Going back to school can be an important learning experience for both parents and children. There are roles, needs and benefits to both in this yearly transition. In the article … more

Patricia Raskin | 8/2/24

Think Jewishly to make the most of summer

I recently got some great tips from ChatGPT about summer activities that incorporate Jewish values. Then I added my own thoughts, and came up with some suggestions: Giving service: There are … more

Patricia Raskin | 7/5/24

Accommodating food preferences and needs is an act of love

For this Food issue , I interviewed my sister-in-law, Devorah Raskin. She and my brother, Russell, are the parents of eight children, and have many beautiful grandchildren – which adds up to … more

Patricia Raskin | 6/7/24

Without uttering a word, our pets still communicate with us

I’ve done a lot of studying of emotional intelligence, and I present webinars and seminars on nonverbal communication and communication in general. And I find a very strong comparison between … more

Patricia Raskin | 5/10/24

Passover helps us clear the clutter in our lives

Some 2-6% of Americans are hoarders, and hoarding disorders are on the rise, according to the International OCD Foundation. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say they’ve seen a … more

Patricia Raskin | 4/5/24

Spring is just around the corner, revitalizing trees – and us

At the end of January, I attended a seder on Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish new year for trees. The 15th of Shevat marks a turning point, when underneath the cold air, the sap of the trees is rising, … more

Patricia Raskin | 3/1/24

Lessons learned in camp will last a lifetime

Lessons learned in summer camp can be valuable to people of all ages and stages of life. On the American Camp Association’s website, acacamps.org, three lessons learned in camp were noted … more

Patricia Raskin | 2/2/24