kherzogcohen

Tree pose

Rosh Chodesh tov! It’s the last day in the month of Shevat and we stand on the brink of double Adar. Adar is the month of Purim, a time of increasing joy (Talmud Taanit 29a). In a leap year, we add an extra month of Adar (our twins were born in Adar II in 2014!).Continue reading “Tree pose”

Wholeness

The orchids in our kitchen have blossomed during the month of Elul. As the days approached the New Year, I found myself pausing to look at these beauties, each one examples of simple unfolding elegance. They seem to shimmer with joy! The blossoms observe our daily coffee cups steaming with promise, the ding of theContinue reading “Wholeness”

Words

The rain this morning pours from the gutters and everywhere else it is lost in the trees. You need your glasses to single out what you know is there because doubt is inexorable; you put on your glasses. The trees, their bark, their leaves, even the dead ones, are more vibrant wet. Yes, and it’sContinue reading “Words”

Torah unfolding

*picture of Texas sage in bloom, a hearty plant that made it through the Feb freeze; the following reflections are selections from last night’s sermon The ebb and flow of Jewish time speaks in the language of the spirit. What I mean is that it is very possible to feel that within the changing seasons and months thereContinue reading “Torah unfolding”

The eyes of my eyes are opened

*pictures above from my neighborhood; and the following words were shared in Shabbat services this morning (slightly adapted) I am holding close a lesson from the gift of sabbatical time – and that is the value of pausing enough to notice details. From the details of a leaf or tree bark or spiderweb, there mightContinue reading “The eyes of my eyes are opened”

Week Six

Shards

Today I said Shalom—hello, farewell and peace—to the old Western Cedar with which I have felt kinship over these past six weeks. My parting ritual each time, after sitting at her base for a while, is to pick up trash, often a piece of glass or ceramic that had shattered and buried into the soilContinue reading “Shards”

Summer light

We are celebrating the longest day of the year with muddy toes, leaf boats sailing down shaded creeks, caterpillar pets (Cattie), dancing kites, and planting lavender in the wedding garden (started with centerpieces from our wedding, 13 years ago this August). In this last week of our Pacific NW adventure, we are grateful for summerContinue reading “Summer light”

Week Five

Lean close

My favorite season is spring—until fall arrives, and then my favorite season is fall: the seasons of change, the seasons that tell me to wake up, to remember that every passing moment of every careening day is always the last moment, always the very last time, always the only instant I will ever take thatContinue reading “Lean close”