Tag Archives: Jews

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.)

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Just Because

It continues!

August 17, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 6 Comments

Given the events of this past weekend in Charlottesville, I decided to break into my queue.

After all, I lived there for 13 years. And, one of my finest accomplishments there (other than the birth of my two daughters and a slew of great products) was bringing life to the 150 year old synagogue there. Jeff Poelvoorde and I spent months convincing folks to come to a traditional Saturday morning service. And, with time, a wonderful Jewish community- shared lives, families, food- developed. And, continues there still some 3 decades later.

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Just Because

Prague

August 8, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 9 Comments

So, I’ve already discussed our trip from Frankfurt to Krakow and then to Auschwitz. From there, we traveled to Prague.

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Frankfurt to Auschwitz

August 7, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 5 Comments

What are we to expect? We get up early, after reaching Krakow at nearly 1 AM. Not the time we expected, but with all the construction on the various arteries leading to the city from Frankfurt, less than surprising.

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H-h-holocaust m-m-memories

July 21, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 18 Comments

I’m not sure about this trip.

First of all, it may mean that my blog posts are going to appear at random times over the next few days. Because I will be traveling to places that may not have the best internet service (or, at all!)- and there is a significant time shift. But, that’s only part of the reasons why I’m not sure about this trip.

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Energy, Technology

Stop! In the name of truth!

June 8, 2017 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 4 Comments

This post was written long before The Donald elected to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord. (That accord is officially entitled the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. I italicized ‘framework’ to ensure y’all recognize this is but a suggestion to preserve the world in which we live- not a series of regulations governing our lives.) Everything in the post below still applies. Except now, the warnings are probably more dire.

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Seventh Heaven?

April 29, 2016 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A.

Today is the 7th day of Pesach. For the past year, the Eqyptians have been beset by the Ten Plagues. Dam, Tzfardaya, Kinim.. In English: Blood. Frogs. Lice. Wild Beasts. Pestilence. Boils. Hail. Locusts. Darkness. Slaying of the First-born. We’ve put blood on our doorposts to protect us from that last plague. And, now we are free, on the edge of Yam Suf, the Sea of Reeds.

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You’ve got to be carefully taught

June 22, 2015 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 4 Comments

(I know I said today’s post would be the third in a four part series about cholesterol. But, I must interject this reaction. The series will continue tomorrow.)

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The Ides of April (give or take)

April 14, 2015 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 2 Comments

This year provides an unusual confluence of events.

150 years ago, this past Thursday, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses P. Grant. Which meant that the Civil War, the war between the North and the South, the war between factions in America was “officially” over. But, like our Battle for Independence, the war went on for at least a few more months. There wasn’t instant communication back then- but. more importantly, to my mind, the war is still ongoing.

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