Tag Archives: holiday

Merry Christmas!!!!

December 25, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 6 Comments

No, it’s not my holiday. Nor have I ever considered celebrating.

But, that doesn’t mean we don’t have our own family traditions revolving about this day. For years, I’d haul my kids to the local Shoneys. One of the few places open on Christmas morning. (By the time my youngest [son] turned 9 [by then, he was the only child in the home], the Shoneys had closed. So, we switched to a local [hole-in-the-wall] diner, which also had a Santa and a brunch.) Where we’d enjoy a wonderful brunch and watch the store Santa visit all the little kids. Which brought joy to mine, seeing the happiness in others.

Continue reading Merry Christmas!!!! →

Share this:

Don't Index

Where’s the Moon?

December 18, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 10 Comments

There was no moon last night. 15 days ago was the last supermoon of 2017. But, what makes this special? In my religion, each new moon is a special holiday called Rosh Chodesh, the start of a new month.

Continue reading Where’s the Moon? →

Share this:

Business Management, Just Because

Thanks! Really. (Part 1)

November 23, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 8 Comments

I don’t generally celebrate (American) Thanksgiving. My Thanksgiving is more in line of how and when the Pilgrims created the holiday. That was a version of Sukot, the harvest festival. More akin to Canadian Thanksgiving, which coincides with my holiday. (Think about it. What harvest would you reap in late November?)

Continue reading Thanks! Really. (Part 1) →

Share this:

Dialysis, Just Because

Woohoooooooo!

October 31, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 16 Comments

So today is a holiday with which I was never allowed to participate. Oh, sure, we bought candy for all the little tykes that would bang on our door, but I wasn’t permitted to travel the streets. It wasn’t our holiday.

Continue reading Woohoooooooo! →

Share this:

Don't Index

Stop? Assembly? Who knows….

October 11, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 10 Comments

Last night was the 7th day of Sukot- but it has a special name- Hoshana Raba. Kind of like a mini-Yom Kipur. During services, we destroy the willow branches that are part of the Lulav and Etrog (see the picture below) we’ve employed during this seven day festival. We either do this because it was part of the rain-bringing rituals that existed centuries ago- or to remind us of repentance. (The origin of the practice is simply not clear to us today.)

Continue reading Stop? Assembly? Who knows…. →

Share this:

Don't Index

The First Monday in September

September 4, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 2 Comments

It’s the first Monday in September. Which means it’s Labor Day. If you grew up in NY City, then, you know it’s been a holiday for 135 years. But, it took more than a few years for it to become a national holiday.

Continue reading The First Monday in September →

Share this:

Don't Index

It’s not just a day off.

May 29, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 4 Comments

If you live in the States, the odds are you have no clue that today is “Decoration Day”. Then, it was always the 30th of May. Not the “If it’s Monday, we need a holiday” version we are celebrating today (the 29th of May).

Continue reading It’s not just a day off. →

Share this:

Don't Index

The only time I ever lag!

May 12, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 10 Comments

My mom’s dead. And, I’m single. So, there’s no celebration of Mother’s Day this weekend. (Pay attention kids- your mom’s alive. Don’t forget her.) And, I was somewhat confused last week, when the Phillies celebrated Mother’s Day. (That’s because there will be no Sunday home game this weekend. )

Continue reading The only time I ever lag! →

Share this:

Don't Index

Another one?

April 16, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A.

Yup. Another holiday. Yes, I know it’s tax season. It’s why I’ve been pushing my clients to get me their stuff early. Because tonight begins the 7th day of Pesach. (You do recall that we Jews start our days in the evening. Because Hashem stated it was evening, it was morning- one day. It’s why Christians follow the evening concept for the birth of Jesus- because he was Jewish and that’s how it worked for him.)

Continue reading Another one? →

Share this:

Don't Index

Tomorrow Night… What a night!

March 10, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A.

Saturday night starts a great holiday for me- Purim. (Purim means “Lots”- as in the lottery. But, it was only after a few twists and turns that we managed to eke out a win with this lottery.) My family tradition adds on a second day- Shushan Purim, the name for the second day; most Ashkenazi Jews rarely celebrate it- for them, it’s a one day holiday.

Continue reading Tomorrow Night… What a night! →

Share this: