Accepting and Letting Go:Heartfelt Lessons From 2024

December 19, 2024 By Susan P Lax

My practice of acceptance and letting go became fragile. As 2024 comes to an end, I find my thoughts reflecting on the interwoven topics of acceptance and letting go. Both are essential for balance in our relationships, with ourselves, others and a higher power. Judaism offers many spiritual practices that nurture such a balance. However, this past year,2024, presented unprecedented challenges and complexities. The traumatizing events of Oct 7th shattered my ability to find solace in these. My practice of... Read more

Faith Lessons from Rachel Goldberg-Polin’s Unthinkable Loss

December 6, 2024 By Susan P Lax

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Yet without her knowledge, Rachel Goldberg-Polin became my teacher of unexpected soul lessons. I have learned from many teachers in classrooms and others from life’s unexpected moments. Yet, I had never imagined I would receive such inspirational and profound teachings from a mother’s pain. Rachel Goldberg-Polin is the mother of Hersh Goldberg -Polin, who was executed by Hamas, after 330 days of captivity. She fought day in day out, for over 11 months persistently with unwavering grace and determination to... Read more

Tikkun Olam-Fixing the World: Is it Possible?

November 14, 2024 By Susan P Lax

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Growing up with the Notion of Tikkun Olam-Repairing the World The world seems broken into pieces of heartache, grief and fear. I, in my 66 years have never experienced such times. Everyday seems to deliver another package of worry, bloodshed and suffering. Yet I was brought up on the notion of Tikkun Olam- translated from Hebrew, fixing or repairing the world. A value handed down to me by past generations. I was taught this is my obligation as a Jew,... Read more

Yom Kippur: No Forgivness for Bibi Netanyahu’s Inaction

October 9, 2024 By Susan P Lax

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On this Yom Kippur, there will be no forgiveness for Bibi Netanyahu. Yom Kippur, is a day when our heart is invited to focus on forgiveness, atonement and self-reflection. Bibi’s Yom Kippur will not offer him Forgiveness nor atonement. His lack of action and signing a deal to return the hostages held in Gaza is unpardonable. Amongst them Keith Seigel, a dear man, brother to a beloved friend of mine. He abandoned the people of Israel, his country, on Oct... Read more

Is There A Way To Peace: Peace Is The Way

July 7, 2024 By Susan P Lax

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Peace is the Way Peace is a continuous wish. We wish for it between countries, people and within ourselves. It cannot just be a wish it must be the manner of our being. Peace must drive our ideas,, our creations, the form of the world. Peace is Between Individuals as Well We hear about activists who strive to end wars. That is a wonderful cause. I don’t think there is any other option. However, one should not forget the... Read more

Joy, Gratitude and Grief:Israel,War and Gaza

May 30, 2024 By Susan P Lax

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Triad of Human Experience, and A Complex World Life’s journey is made up of a rainbow of emotions, each one helping shape our existence in profound ways. Among these, joy, gratitude, and grief are essential to our everyday living, they are deeeply connected and aid us in understanding the world. These days, the world has gotten very hard to understand. Moments of joy and gratitude help carry me through the many waves of grief. The massacre of October 7th still... Read more

Hope Amidst War: How I Hold Hope Since Oct 7th

February 13, 2024 By Susan P Lax

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I didn’t know, how I would hold hope amidst the sounds of war? Hope used to be one of the brightest in my garden of moments. I would advocate for its sweetness. In the most challenging of times, guide the ill and grieving. To their own treasures of hope. And then Oct 7th happened. My soul was captured by grief, fear, pain and unbearable sadness. Hope seemed to have fled down the rivers of my tears. I didn’t know, how... Read more

Between Courage and Hope: 91 days Hostages held by Hamas.

January 5, 2024 By Susan P Lax

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It is almost 100 days since Hamas massacred and took hostages from the villages of Southern Israel. It takes courage to hold hope in challenging times. In between the two there can be many moments of darkness. It is almost 100 days since Hamas massacred and took hostages from the villages of Southern Israel. Surviving such a traumatic experience takes immense courage. Speaking up afterward requires strength and resilience beyond measure. I know listening to their bravery allows me to... Read more

The Hostages Held By Hamas Must Come Home

November 8, 2023 By Susan P Lax

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A month has passed since the horrific massacre of Oct 7th, 2023, in Israel. Yesterday a dear woman asked me” What has it been like for you this past month.” I replied with no hesitation” Like it is Oct 7th every day.”. A month has passed since the horrific massacre of Oct 7th, 2023, in Israel. For me, every day feels like it is still Oct. 7th. My days have no names, Sunday, Tuesday they are all mixed into... Read more

The atrocities the Hamas terrorists did in Israel echoes the barbarisms of the Nazis.

October 13, 2023 By Susan P Lax

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The similarities of films of the Holocaust and the evil brutality of Nazis I saw as a young girl. I have sat down numerous times in an effort to write this column. But the dictionary of words to describe any of the occurrences in Israel on Saturday 10.7.23 was blank. The atrocities of the Hamas terrorists did in Israel echoes the barbarisms of Isis and the Nazis. I will not share with you the gruesome photos of what Israeli... Read more