Announcing my new website, and Walking my A.S. Off for the month of May!
Happy Spring... I think?!
I had started this email by telling you that Spring has finally arrived in Toronto, with those-who-know-these-things letting us know that the cherry blossoms should be out in the next two weeks. For my friends south of the border, first let me reassure you, Toronto is not as cold as you think it is. But... spring is a very short season around here, and you can feel everyone's mood lifting with each nice day. That, however, was not the case today, when I looked out my window to see... SNOW! We get it, Winter. It's enough already.
Despite what I hope will be the last wintry surprise, I'm going to act like it's Spring, especially since Spring is a good time to "refresh" things, and that's mostly what I've been up to... Read more about it below!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the horrific attacks on religious sites and worshippers over the past few months. Of course, there was Pittsburgh, and the arson attacks on three black churches in the South, last month's horrendous massacre on the Muslim community of Christchurch, and most recently, the murderous attacks on the Catholic community in Sri Lanka and the devastating shooting at a San Diego area Chabad on the last day of Passover.
I am uncharacteristically speechless. Words seem inadequate.
After Pittsburgh I wrote about the miracle of community. My words then will have to stand in for any eloquence I could offer now. Read them here.
And of course, if going to synagogue is your kind of thing, or even if it's not, join the Jewish community in a show of solidarity this Friday and Saturday and #ShowUpForShabbat. Our existence is resistance.
Introducing... my new website!
I finally did it! My old website was much in need of an overhaul as I began to publish more writing.
Enter this brand spankin' new website, complete with a portfolio of all of my published works, as well as some otherwise un-published pieces, like divrei Torah and personal reflections.
For those of you who like an Easter Egg: find the pictures of Tashi, my stubborn 10-year-old shih tzu, hiding somewhere on the site!
It's Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month and I'm Walking My A.S. Off!
Each May, I participate in a virtual walkathon to raise awareness about ankylosing spondylitis, a kind of inflammatory arthritis that affects predominantly the spine.
You can follow my progress throughout the month here.
Want to support me? There are three ways!
In Toronto?
Take a walk with me!
Not in Toronto?
Keep me fuelled by buying me coffee!
Donate to advance arthritis research!
In Canada, donate to the Campaign to Cure Arthritis at Toronto Western Hospital, or the Canadian Spondylitis Association.
In the US, donate to the Spondylitis Association of America.
A podcast about life with ankylosing spondylitis
I had the privilege of talking to the host of the podcast No End In Sight about my life with ankylosing spondylitis, before and after diagnosis.
Listen, or read the transcript of our chat, here.
My words in the CJN
The Canadian Jewish News featured a cover story on Jews of Colour in Canada. I was interviewed and provide some insights and suggestions for how we can become a more inclusive community as we grow increasingly racially diverse.
Read the article here.
Other things I'm thinking about...
Relational Engagement...
I'm still processing all of the things that I learned in February when I joined about 15 of my colleagues to discuss the state of the field of relational engagement.
You can read more about what Ron Wolfson, author of Relational Judaism, and co-author of The Relational Judaism Handbook said about our days together .
It's not that new anymore but... remember when Solange surprised us all with a new album?
This might strike some people as blasphemy, but Solange is by far my favourite Knowles sister.
Favourite so far: Stay Flo.