May is such a special month, and not just because Hallmark tells us to appreciate our mothers….though that is a very special part of the month! May represents true springtime in Minnesota. It is also the month we celebrate graduates and graduations, and in many respects, it feels like a month of [...]
I’ve heard it mentioned that if you want to know how well a community functions, observe how it takes care of and addresses the needs of its aging population. Relatedly, many of us are familiar with the strong desire of older people to age well while aging independently. Author and physician Atul[...]
When daylight lengthens in Minnesota, our expectations increase. The extra sunlight has to mean the snow will melt, the air will warm, and our outer layers can be packed away until next year, right? Not really! No matter how many Minnesota winters we may experience, somehow disappointment never fai[...]
Like many of you, I am trying to wrap my arms around the reality that more than 5 million people have become displaced by the recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. That’s right – 5 million – as reported by the governments of the two countries. The disruption and trauma that will accompany a[...]
Though February and Valentine’s Day are still one month away, it seems like this would be a good time to talk about hearts. The heavy amount of snow that has fallen is beautiful, yet dangerous for those with known or unknown heart issues who shovel it. Football players, like Damar Hamlin, who suf[...]
As I write this in mid-December, Minnesota is experiencing its January thaw, and bracing for a bruiser of a snowstorm, all in the scope of a few days. In other words, we’re having a typical Minnesota winter! Chanukah is almost here, and gratefully our JFCS Hag Sameach staff and volunteers have ti[...]
However you plan to celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope in addition to a full tummy, you will feel full with gratitude, as well. Most of us are fortunate enough to have family, friends, support, and all the necessities of life. It may not feel that way all the time; we’re only human. Measure for measu[...]
Speaking as a tried and true Minnesotan, I am feeling so grateful for the magnificent fall weather and beautiful foliage we have been treated to these past few weeks. Getting outdoors for walks, Sukkah visits, apple picking and yard clean-up….I hate to see it go! I also enjoy winter (did I mentio[...]
I’ve heard it said that of all of the senses humans possess, the one that stays with us long after the others do is our sense of hearing. Though this obviously does not hold true for those with profound deafness, it evidently is even the case for people with hearing-impairment. My personal experi[...]
One of my fellow CEOs at a Jewish Family and Children’s Service in another state shared with me the various diversity and inclusion practices her agency was embarking upon in their effort to create an environment that was increasingly welcoming to staff, clients, volunteers, and other stakeholder[...]