The past two weeks have not been easy for me. I've experienced nightly dreams, thoughts of pending disaster, and hypersensitivity to antisemitism. I'm not alone. In the numerous Facebook pages that I follow, other Jews are experiencing the same thing. I hear from friends and family. We feel afraid and alone. I'm just glad my … Continue reading Intergenerational Trauma is Sucking the Life Out of Me

With Twitter (I refuse to use its new name) undergoing significant change and dissatisfied users looking elsewhere, I couldn't help but notice how many similar social media platforms there are. Just the Twitter alternatives include Mastadon, Counter.Social, Diaspora, Bluesky, T2 Social, and Threads. Who can keep up? Social media is less than 30 years old. … Continue reading The Future of Social Media

The entrance to Auschwitz. Holocaust deniers will tell you there was a swimming pool in Auschwitz; hence, it could not have been an extermination camp. In fact, there was a pool in the extermination camp. A water reservoir in Auschwitz I (the main camp) was converted into a swimming pool, which was used for a … Continue reading Yes, There Was a Swimming Pool in Auschwitz

Right off the bat, I admit that I did not want to leave Twitter (now called X). I've been active on the app for over 10 years and have close to 19,000 followers. That's a big platform to promote my writing. I was willing to put up with Elon Musk's childish rants and his blatant … Continue reading Why I’m leaving Twitter for Threads

When I was a child, my happy place was my overnight summer camp on Moose Lake in Haliburton, Ontario. Getting out of the city to a beautiful forest setting and away from the oversite of parents was the ultimate thrill. I met my good friend Ted at the camp 57 years ago. Since 2007, I … Continue reading Two Jews in a Canoe Loose on Moose Lake (try saying that fast 5 times)

I have been closely following my Twitter account (or X, as some people insist on calling it) since the introduction of Twitter Blue (now just called Blue). I'm not averse to paying for it, but I have yet to identify enough benefits to justify purchasing it. Twitter Blue is relatively new, but the "blue tick" … Continue reading Why I Haven’t Signed Up For Twitter Blue

If you were to ask me what food is most associated with Jewish culture, it would not be bagels, knishes, or even gefilte fish. It would be cholent. You have probably never heard of cholent, but it’s been around for centuries. Cholent is a traditional slow-cooked Sabbath stew in Jewish cuisine developed by Ashkenazi Jews, … Continue reading What’s the Most Jewish Dish? It’s Not What You Think.

On July 14th, I received an email from Facebook asking if I had changed the email associated with my account. I responded that it wasn't me, but it was too late. A hacker had changed the email address, phone number, and password to my account, and I was locked out. I used an online form … Continue reading I Was Hacked and How To Protect Yourself

I bet you thought being a writer was a revered and honourable profession. People would flock to bookstores to scoop up your work and praise you for contributing to humanity. That when you walked into a restaurant, you would be immediately recognized and feted like royalty. Your book releases would be treated on par with … Continue reading Ode to a Writer

My mom used to make Vishnik, a Romanian sour cherry brandy. It was an old family recipe handed down from my great-grandfather. He operated a brandy distillery, and his sons, including my grandfather, Wolf, went into the business. The business mostly catered to the small Jewish community in Comanesti, Romania, and the surrounding villages. The … Continue reading The History of Jews and Alcohol