So, What Exactly Is Tisha B’Av?
If you ever attended a Jewish camp, you might remember this day as one that lasted forever and left a sour taste (food pun intended) in your mouth.
Why I’ll Send My Son with Fragile X to School on Sukkot
I am sending my 5-year-old son to school on the holy days of Sukkot. It will be the first time we’ve ever done this, and the decision is killing me.
Originally published on Kveller 10/14/2016
How Headphones Literally Saved My Son with Fragile X During a Family Outing
We got out of our car at the aquarium, and before we even reached the entrance, I knew we had made a mistake.
Originally published on Kveller 1/3/2017
My Son Has Fragile X Syndrome–And a Surprising Connection to Prayer
When my son wakes up in the morning, he immediately asks for two things. First, he needs his chart, a small white board with two strips of Velcro and tiny laminated pictures that he organizes with his morning routine. Second, he needs his “benscher book,” the once-beautiful-now-torn-and-chewed-and-duct-taped book of Jewish songs and prayers that we gave to guests at our wedding long before our son was a twinkle in my eye.
Originally published on Kveller 2/26/2015
What a Candle, Spice Box, and Grape Juice Can Really Do for Your Family
I’ve always been a big believer in the family Shabbat experience. In our family, we light Shabbat candles together every Friday night in our dining room (a room our boys so rarely eat or play in that they actually call it the “Shabbat room” since that’s what we do there). We sing “Shabbat Shalom” and give high fives and kisses to everyone.
Originally published on Kveller 12/18/2015
Fragile X Awareness
In our world of parenting a child with special needs, all you have to do is say "Holland" and everyone knows you are dealing with challenging days and lost dreams.
Originally published in the Jewish Week 7/2/2014
Returning To The Pulpit, With Gratitude
Last Rosh HaShanah, I heard the shofar blasts in my kitchen, when my rabbi (who is also my mentor and friend) came over in the afternoon of the first day of the holiday, shofar in hand.
Originally published in the Jewish Week 9/28/2016
Don't Mourn the End of Summer
The conversations I’ve been hearing lately all seem to sound the same:
How was your summer? Nice, but too fast! I know! I can’t believe summer’s already over!
Rabbis Have Feelings Too
These days it seems like I am always tired. Not the 5-am-wakeup-so-I-can-get-to-the-gym kind of tired. And not even the 11-pm-bedtime-after-a-long-night-of-meetings tired. And while those kids certainly tire me out, I don’t think I can blame them for this one either.
Shabbatoween 2014: Keeping it Neighborly and Making it Jewish
How do I undo what I've done to Halloween? I don't want him to participate in trick-or-treating, but there should be joy in helping others to celebrate their holidays (like wishing other people a Merry Christmas). Perhaps it's time to start a new Halloween tradition -- even in this rabbi's home.