Don Shrumm in his element What happens when your college roommate and friend of over 40 years comes to visit?   Well, you go down memory lane, and, in the case, of reuniting with Don Shrumm you participate in creating a podcast. Don and I lived together in MacMillan Hall from 1977 to 1981, the year … Continue reading Down memory lane with Don … →

As part of this December double-edition (two blog entries for the price of one), I thought the people to whom I send a monthly e-mail message announcing new posts might like to know something about the other recipients.   The distribution list is carefully curated, and each person receiving the message is special to me in … Continue reading Who you are … →

Kashrut (also kashruth or kashrus, כַּשְׁרוּת) is the set of Jewish religious dietary laws. Food that may be consumed according to halakha (Jewish law) is termed kosher /ˈkoʊʃər/ in English, from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the Hebrew term kashér (כָּשֵׁר), meaning "fit" (in this context, fit for consumption). Kashrut is a set of biblical dietary restrictions … Continue reading Kashrut, Kosher, Krazy? →

And now we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for a mediation on recent events ... specifically the massacre in Pittsburgh at the Tree of Life Synagogue. As a white, American, Protestant male, growing up in a bucolic Southeastern Washington town, I had no idea that my life could characterized as one of privilege.   But, as … Continue reading How it feels to be a minority →

Definition:  Halakha = Jewish Law  As I understand it, the relationship between Jewish Law and Jewish life can be charted along a spectrum ranging from little to no correlation all the way to strict, ultra-orthodox observance.   This spectrum roughly charts the continuum from a completely secular lifestyle to more liberal expressions to more conservative observance … Continue reading What’s with all the rules anyway? →

My exploration of Judaism, the decision to pursue conversion and eventual acceptance by the Jewish community as one of their own represents a milestone event in my life that takes a place of supreme importance to me--right along with my marriage, the choosing of my profession, the birth of my children, the marriage of my … Continue reading Family, friends and changing your religion →

This blog post discusses the differences between Christianity and Judaism, describes the way in which Jews view Jesus and the New Testament and how I make sense of this. "One of the distinctive characteristics of Jewish civilization is the way in which religion is infused in elements of culture—food, clothing, language, literature, law—which are not … Continue reading Christianity & Judaism →

We are all on this journey called life together.   Despite the many differences we may perceive, this fact binds us together.   Where does this life we have been given come from?   Certainly, the biological mix that our parents contributed plays a big part but we sense there is more. Some of us may call it … Continue reading Finding our Way →

Thanks for joining me! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton