Category: Our Heroic and Ceaseless 24/7 Struggle against Tsuris

The Political is Personal

At  a teach-in on Israel’s blockage on Gaza Henry introduced me to Sylvia She was very involved in the growing Liberate Gaza movement She came from an unusually committed family

Getting away with Mass Murder

1. Years ago a student offered her honest assessment of a Social Justice class I taught: “You know, the work load in your class is overwhelming…and I tell all my friends that they have to…

J. A. Topf & Sons

Someone had an idea Someone mentioned it to a colleague Someone sent a memo to the higher-ups Someone gathered a group of movers and shakers Someone got the engineers on board Someone set production goals

Stand-In

All those evenings I drove down to Brandeis Avenue To see my great-aunt Leah Salzman Miller 1986-1992 I remember Mev joined me once And took photos of Leah and me Leah was fierce A widow…

Last

The Stoics encouraged their students To live each day as if it were their last That old mantra Carpe diem The last lecture The last deep listening The last sounding of the bell The last…

For Lindsay

After the evening sharing on “coming alive” You told me with a tear You want to be at a monastery You want to be silent for days The Sufis say don’t speak unless you can…

Freedom

Month off between semesters 14-hour days Smiling at mile 18 of marathon Straining to do five pushups “We are pleased to accept you as a Corps member” “We are unable to take many qualified candidates”

You Know Some People

#1 You know some people who are in a bind You know some people who are lost, big-time You know some people who are in the employ of socially approved psychopaths You know some people…

To a Friend in Africa

Opening your heart is like opening the door You don’t just have to fling it open every hour of the day That would be exhausting There’s a time to crack the door a little Take…