Family and Personal Update

Here’s a quick update on what is going on with our family. Annette and I are now in our second full year of retirement from the public school positions that we had held for many years. For my wife, who loves museums and concerts, this has meant the freedom to partake of New York City’s rich cultural offerings on a more regular basis. I have been using my extra time to expand my private practice to the point where I am probably busier than I ever was when I had two full-time jobs.

There was only one, literally speaking, shattering experience this year. That happened in June when I lost my balance on some rickety steps at a synagogue function and fractured my right ankle. The good news is that the body has spontaneous healing mechanisms which worked magic within 6-8 weeks. I’m nearly fully recovered now.

One thing that the year did not shatter was my trust and confidence in the Haggadah of Passover to once again yield nuggets of sparkling insight. Near the beginning of the Seder service, we are told that the Torah speaks of four children: “One, wise; one, wicked; one, simple; and one, who does not know how to ask.” How interesting, it occurred to me, that each one is accorded the status of Number one. Centuries before the era of individualized education, the rabbis who wrote the Haggadah were postulating, I believe, that all children, from the most capable to the least capable, should be treated with respect, dignity, and priority.

One advantage that we have had this year is the ability to spend more time with our six grandchildren pictured above. Each one is truly number one to us since they have such unique styles and nuances. We are grateful that this has been a productive and prolific year in the careers of both Suzanne and Yosef as well as Edward and Nancy; and we are proud and pleased that there will be another addition to the family of our son and daughter-in-law, G-d willing, in January.