Many years ago — maybe 15? — I was the speaker at a joint event for the American Jewish Committee (AJC), where I served as regional director, and the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). We were working to deepen ties between the two communities. I opened with a joke that fell completely flat. (It still makes […]
If you grew up in Michigan, you may know the Zilwaukee Bridge — that long, elegant rise on I-75 that signals you’re officially on your way “up north.” What most people forget is how the first attempt to modernize it went: the two spans, approaching from opposite sides of the river, didn’t meet in the […]
I’ve been told that I can come on a bit… strong. Over the years, I’ve worked to become more aware of my intensity — not to dim it, but to make it more welcoming. To lead with curiosity before conviction. To let people in, rather than overtake the space. In the category of “I can’t […]
I’ve always felt a strong sense of community. I have no issue going (mostly!) anywhere alone, because I can find connection—a moment of camaraderie, a shared bond. I’ve spent my professional life building community, because I want others to feel that same sense of belonging. But I have never felt community as deeply as I […]
In an earlier dispatch, I shared the story of how I named my consultancy, Good Name Advisors. I spoke of the “good names” left to me by my late father and late father-in-law — the legacies they built and passed on. They are, of course, among my greatest mentors. There are others, too — family, friends, […]
To state the obvious, the “marketplace of ideas” is overwhelming. The amount of information available at our fingertips is beyond comprehension—let alone consumption. How can anyone possibly keep up with media, both social and traditional? We’re bombarded with blogs, podcasts, reels, influencers, and endless commentary. Most of it flows in one ear and out the […]
In Judaism, there is a rhythm to studying the Torah. Each year, on Simchat Torah, at the end of the High Holy Days, we symbolically and practically roll back the Torah scrolls and start reading again from the beginning. It’s a reminder that learning is never finished — that the same text can speak differently […]
This past week, depending on where you live, you may have felt a shift in the air — a hint of autumn creeping in. The calendar seems to know: school is starting, the Jewish month of Elul has begun, and Labor Day is nearly here. The cool breeze feels energizing, but it also carries that […]
I just spent the weekend in California at Monterey Car Week, surrounded by gleaming chrome and the world’s most passionate car collectors. Car Week is full of collectors gazing lovingly at engines and chassis, frames and lines. It’s an amazing place for people-watching, classic car racing, and soaking in the natural beauty of California’s Monterey […]
I don’t want to make you uncomfortable—but I think a lot about the end of life. Not in a depressing way. In an empowering way. It started about 10 years ago, when I read David Brooks’ The Road to Character, where he distinguishes between two kinds of qualities: those that belong on a résumé, and […]
