Ripple in Still Water

          In our home,  I usually am the one who wakes up first.  Typically, I try to be incredibly quiet so as not to wake my wife.  For approximately 30-45 minutes, the house is normally, quiet. I can turn on the news show that I enjoy. For a few minutes, no one needs me to do "this, that or the other thing." So this morning, I quietly get out of bed, I descend the stairs and there is a light on in our family room already. There's my wife, on the sofa, with her computer, trying to master various computer programs that are designed to facilitate her conducting and "on line" kindergarten class.  She couldn't sleep. She had been up for hours. "I guess I am a bit anxious" she smiled through her worried eyes. I know that the anxiety will lead to her being tired later today. I thought about all those upon who we rely, who we cannot afford to become tired. I thought about health care workers, lab clinicians, farmworkers, those who are going manufa...

            As I watched the sunrise this morning, clear, crisp,  with the sky changing from a dark blue to a magnificent sky blue (or as my mother who grew up in North Carolina would say "Carolina Blue" in reference to her the University of North Carolina Tar Heels), I thought about what had transpired last night and what I was about to do this morning.  Last night, when Shabbat ended, one of our teenagers prepared for the Havdalah service. She poured a cup of wine, took out a special multi wicked candle, and a spice box filled with cloves and cinnamon. I looked outside into the night sky and saw the requisite three stars we began. The final blessing of the that very short yet incredibly spiritual service concludes with the Bracha: Baruh Atah Adoshem Elokeinu Melech Ha'Olam, Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L'Chol, Bein Or L'CHoshech Bein Yisroel L'Amim Bein Yom HaShvii L'Sheshet Yemei HaMaaseh. Baruch Atah Adoshem HaMavdil Bein Kodesh L'Chol - Praise are yo...