Passover (Pesach) begins this Monday evening and will last for 8 days. Of all the Jewish holidays, it is the one most commonly observed, even by otherwise non-observant Jews. According to the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS), more than 80% of Jews have attended a Passover seder (a ritual feast), which occurs on each of the first 2 nights. Like its cousin Easter, Passover is a time to bring together family and friends to commemorate a sacred event – in this case, the Exodus of Egyptian Jews after generations of slavery under Pharoah. It is also a time to feel symbolically freed from whatever enslaves us. In addition, it is the first of the three yearly festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (Sukkot and Shavuot being the other two). For those of our readers who will be hosting or participating in a seder, we wish you Chag Sameach (Happy Holidays)!

No stranger to the perils of drug abuse herself, Taylor knew firsthand Jackson could indeed turn his life around.  After her own rehab stint made headlines in the early 1980s, Taylor was in a unique position to speak out to celebrities who abuse drugs to cope with fame and its pitfalls.  While Jackson eventually passed away, allegedly from a powerful prescription drug, there is something to be learned from the lives of both the King of Pop and Hollywood’s golden girl. . . . . Elizabeth Taylor’s passing provides us the opportunity to reflect on the perils of fame.  While the plights of celebrities have become a preoccupation and hobby for many people, it is apparent that the lenses under which these stars live result in more tragic endings than fairytale ones. Read the whole thing. I have often wondered if it is the superabundance of those “tragic endings” which accounts, in large part, for our fascination with the lifestyles of the rich and famous.  We may not have the wealth or recognition that these individuals, for lack of better word, enjoy.  And their stories remind us that while we may aspire for such things, they aren’t necessary to secure Read More …