I couldn’t believe it. One of my trusted old reference books failed me for the first time. I am an old-fashioned guy and I still use books for reference rather than resorting to the … more

From the start of Genesis, we have been reading one long story extending over many centuries. It began with the creation of man and proceeded with the narrative of the transformation of a small … more

There was a time when I was fascinated by the great psychoanalytic thinkers, chief among them Sigmund Freud, whose attitude towards his Jewish origins piqued my curiosity. Although … more

The two old men couldn’t have been more different from each other. Yet they both taught me the identical life lesson. The first, a cagey old Irishman, was one of my mentors in the … more

I was very embarrassed by her sharp rebuke. But looking back, I realize that the lesson I learned from her brief criticism was more valuable than most of my other training experiences. It … more

There are two kinds of people.” I am sure that you all have heard one variation or another of that theme. We seem to have a well-ingrained habit of dividing people into two categories (for … more

There are jokes which are very funny on the surface but which, upon reflection, can be quite painful and disturbing. One of them, told frequently a few decades ago, concerns a matronly woman from the … more

Ignorance is bliss.” There was a time not too long ago when these three words would engender a long and interesting discussion, perhaps even debate. There would have been speculation about … more

There is something special about meeting up with an old friend one hasn’t seen in years. I recently had just such a special experience, when I spent a weekend in a community where a friend … more

Who am I?” This is the most powerful question. For many of us, there are no easy answers. We are uncertain of our own identities. Social scientists believe that this question is typically … more