Author Archives: kherzogcohen

I try to walk everyday, for the dog’s mental well being and my own. Sometimes I’m on the phone, often I’m listening to music, and along the way, I pause to praise the chorus of birds, or the water rushing in the nearby creek. A few nights ago, I was catching up with a dearContinue reading “Tangled”

Dear Dad, We have almost reached a year since you died, a year since our hearts broke into fragments, as the keriah ribbons tore in our fumbling hands. We have tried to tenderly mend pieces that will never fit back together, because we will always long for your physical presence each day we walk thisContinue reading “A letter to my father, z’l”

I still remember my eyes would grow wide each time we read a children’s book about Icarus — and I can vaguely recall the illustrations from close to 40 years ago now. Icarus made magnificent wax wings and, despite Daedalus’ clear instructions, flew closer and closer to the sun until finally plunging to his death.Continue reading “Too close to the sun”

I had reconstruction surgery (implants) last Wednesday. It was early morning after the second Seder and I was familiar with the prep routine, but this time my mind, body and soul had been through an additional trauma beyond breast cancer treatment. My dad died just a month and a half ago from what was expectedContinue reading “Naming”

We stood on the sidewalk adjacent to our house as the light became a calm blue. The birds had been silent for well over thirty minutes as the kids flew between the house and the front yard, lifting the eclipse glasses to their eyes and praising the wonder unfolding before us in the heavens. WeContinue reading “Shattered Lens”

Eulogy for Dad March 7, 2024/28 Adar I 5784 On behalf of my family, I want to begin by thanking the compassionate clergy team, committed staff and loving members of this Temple Emanu-El community—thank you for supporting us, near and far. You have carried my family through a most challenging year and now continue toContinue reading “To Dad”

*adapted sermon for Parashat Yitro, Temple Emanu-El on Feb.2, 2024 24 Sh’vat 5784 This past Sunday, I joined Youth Learning and Engagement staff in teaching first graders and their families about the holiday of Tu B’shvat, the New Year of the Trees, which we marked a little over a week ago. We sang, and blessed,Continue reading “Standing with steadiness”

It’s been a little while. Hello friends, and Happy Tu B’shvat (15th day of the month of Sh’vat), the New Year of the Trees, when the signs of spring begin to emerge in Israel. In the cold and rain, could there be hints of regrowth and healing? In the wake of October 7th, I struggle toContinue reading “I’m not the same”

*sermon offered at Temple Emanu-El on November 10th, 2023/27 Cheshvan 5784 Where are you, God? Where am I, God? I imagine our matriarch Sarah asked this often while on her desert trek. She called out to the vast landscape when she departed from the only home she ever knew, when she couldn’t conceive of aContinue reading “Little piece of You”