Monthly Archives: September 2018

A Yom Kippur Primer (Liturgical Highlights)

A dear friend and close colleague of some twenty years in the Department of Religion, not Jewish, asked about Yom Kippur. Just what is Yom Kippur and what exactly does one do all day, assuming of course that one is … Continue reading

Posted in uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

American Association of University Professors Statement Against BDS (University of Michigan)

For those following the recent controversy at the University of Michigan surrounding the case of a professor who agreed to write and then declined, on narrow political grounds, to write a letter of recommendation for an undergraduate upon learning that … Continue reading

Posted in uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

(On Not Suffering) Caffeine Suppositories (Yom Kippur)

After excruciating headaches this Yom Kippur, I appreciate that this definitely seems to be a thing. From the Forward, you  can read the article here about the use of caffeine suppositories to ease the horrible effects of withdrawal on the … Continue reading

Posted in uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Andrew Cuomo (This is What State-Wide Politics Looks Like)

Having sparred continuously with friends to my left, I’m delighted that Cuomo won the primary for governor and that the entire slate of progressive candidates lost their bid for state wide office (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General). Mostly because … Continue reading

Posted in uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

U’netaneh Tokef is a Wolfish Prayer

I used to think I understood the U’netaneh Tokef, the famous High Holiday piyyut, or liturgical poem. It’s expression centered on the sublime eternity of God, the fleeting and uncertain condition of human life (how many will live and how … Continue reading

Posted in uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

(Our Apocalyptic Future) The Last Rosh Ha’Shana (Power Out at Hall of Languages)

If the future looks like this, will this be the last Rosh Ha’Shanah ever, the last Rosh Ha’Shana on planet Earth? The other day after two days of intense unseasonable heat, the AC in the Hall of Languages at Syracuse … Continue reading

Posted in uncategorized | 2 Comments

Trump and Confederate Flags at the New York State Fair 2018

I’ve been going to the New York State Fair annually for a bit over ten years and have been posting from there every summer since I began blogging. The New York State Fair is It carnivalesque in all the ways … Continue reading

Posted in uncategorized | Leave a comment

I and the Village (Marc Chagall at the New York State Fair 2018)

Posted in uncategorized | Leave a comment

Massive Melancholy Cows & Champion Duck (New York State Fair 2018)

Posted in uncategorized | Leave a comment