Hoping to gain more wisdom in my life, I’ve taken a deep dive into the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes in recent days. Ecclesiastes is defined as “the words of the Teacher”—someone wrestling out loud with what life really means. It was written by King Solomon— maybe—who’s regarded in Jewish and Christian tradition as the [...]

Karen and I are certainly not teetotalers. We enjoy an occasional drink now and then—a gin and tonic, maybe, or a glass of wine with dinner. But when a beloved friend showed up at our door in early December, looking like her 40-ish, stylish, former self, and proclaiming she hadn’t had a drink for several [...]

If modern wisdom is supposed to guide us, why does the world still look like this? On Aug. 14, 2025, I published a Substack that promised a series on the topic of wisdom, as seen from the world’s perspective, and from the three great religious traditions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. That post (Part 1) was [...]

At times, it can be terribly frustrating. Anyone who has stared at a computer screen, waiting to be zapped with just the right sentiment, metaphor, or brilliant turn of phrase—only to keep staring far longer than they care to admit—knows the feeling. Whether it’s the next great American novel, a heartfelt letter of apology, [...]

Well, we’re on our way…at least the lovers of American history are!On July 4, we as a nation will usher in a grand celebration, one that will harken back 250 years to the beginning. Let me set the stage…The Declaration of Independence wasn’t first unveiled in a quiet room—it was proclaimed aloud to the public. [...]

Countdown to July 4, 2026 When I attended Los Angeles Junior College in the fall of 1969, I stepped into a temporary bungalow classroom—the campus still brand new—thinking I’d simply knock out my general education requirement for U.S. history. What I didn’t expect to find was a teacher—small in stature but a giant storyteller—who [...]

As we approach July 4, 2026—the 250th birthday of this country—I find myself asking: How well do we really know the story we’re celebrating? No slogans. No soundbites. Just the story. It’s in vogue these days to charge that our history has been whitewashed. Others say it’s being “rewritten” through a woke lens. Still [...]

The year was 1818. In the small alpine village of Oberndorf, near Salzburg, Austria, world history was made when a church organ broke down at the most inopportune time. A young priest named Joseph Mohr led a small flock of believers attending the St. Nicholas Church. Europe was still recovering from the Napoleonic Wars—life [...]

The Shroud of Turin?Alright…I can already hear all you scoffers and naysayers. Hang with me, here. You might find this interesting.First things first. There’s no doubt about the historical Jesus. He came, he preached and healed, and he died.We have enough independent accounts outside the Christian canon to verify his ministry. Consider:Flavius Josephus (c. 37–100 [...]

How can the same holiday tradition be both the snag in my season and the joy that steadies my heart—its memories clinging like ornaments to a well-worn branch? Growing up in a Jewish family in the 50s and 60s, God forbid a Christmas tree ever crossed the threshold. For a few years, though, our living [...]