All of humanity can be viewed in a checkout on a busy midweek lunchtime. Where Buddha taught patience dealing with the old and infirm, two old grannies were about to ruin my day. Some days I just run out of luck. The milk had been guzzled by the kids and…

“I got a present for you, Luv. It was from your Nan. She meant to give it to you before…you know. She couldn’t wait for today.” Nan passed away last week. Nothing dramatic. She was old and died in her sleep. She was looking forward to the Jubilee. She loved…

Officially on ‘Gardening Leave’ — I’m gone. My email no longer exists. I’m no longer part of any team. My existence at the corporation has been erased. Time for a new chapter. I thought I had another four weeks to prepare a leaving speech and slowly inform all my colleagues and friends of my departure…

Parsha Summary: Vayikra, which opens the book of Leviticus, G‑d speaks to Moses from the Tent of Meeting and begins His communication of the laws governing the bringing of the korbanot, the animal and meal offerings that are the central feature of the service performed in the Sanctuary. “And lo…

Parsha Summary: Pekudei (“Accounts”) is the last in a series of five Parshiot (Torah sections) describing the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary built by the people of Israel in the Sinai Desert by Divine command to serve as “a dwelling for G‑d in the physical world.” It contains a) an audit…

Smillew made me do it. — Smillew Rahcuef came to me in a dream and demanded my attention. He knew I couldn’t resist a man in a hat waving a purplish wand. He said the world of Medium was changing. Nothing could last forever, not even a Salsa meltdown on rye. “MILQUETOAST!” That’s all you’ll ever…

Marion (born 1946) lived an unremarkable life. She was the only child to Sam and April, an unremarkable couple living an unremarkable life somewhere in an unremarkable town. Sam’s most distinguished feature was the presence of a mole situated on his left cheek. During summer, the mole expanded with the…

Parshat summary: “The Parshah of Vayakhel records the actual implementation of G‑d’s instructions on how to build the Mishkan (Tabernacle), recounted earlier in the Parshah of Terumah. Indeed, much of Vayakhel is almost an exact repeat of Terumah, the only apparent difference being that the details which in Terumah are…

The truth lies somewhere in between. Theo always loved biscuits. It didn’t matter what type they were. The shapes and choice of wafers had him intrigued. With fillings held together by two halves or the way a biscuit would crumble, each shard delicately separating in the mouth. Theo loved everything…