Man of the Year

Before I go on, let me make something clear, I am not a Catholic, not even a Christian, I am a Jew.

Time magazine named Pope Francis Man of the Year. Who is this man from Argentina who took the world by his gentle storm? Why is he so appealing to many (not only Catholics)? I listened to the experts on CNN, analyzing the Pope Francis phenomena, though they were right in their conclusions, mine was somewhat less scientific and more simple.

Pope Francis, as we Jews would say, is a mentsch. In Yiddish, this means a person with integrity (more or less). In my mind he is nothing more than a Man , in the real sense of the word. I watched the people listening to His speech today. Many of them did not even understand what he was saying, but there was no need for it. It was understood, you didn't even need an interpreter. He delivers the MESSAGE loud and clear. Live your lives as humans, shed yourselves from religious dogma, see the people around you as people and not objects.

Christmas or not, the World was not a peaceful place today. Maybe, just maybe we should listen what the Man of the Year has to say.

To my friends who celebrate it, say Happy Birthday to the most famous Jewish kid in history. As to the Man of the Year, you may just pull it off, unite not divide.

Have a good one everyone!

White Blanket

I watched as the perfect snowflakes touched the ground. One by one, they dusted the street, then their dance, so elegant, picked up and became frenzied. The frozen waters from the sky shed their aristocratic move, and came down hard.

What once was dark pavement, became white. Tree branches bent under the crystals and garbage left on the lawn disappeared. I wondered, how easy it is for this winter blessing to erase what is wrong. Covering us with its protective white blanket, muzzling the sounds around, banishing the ugly and grey.

I wanted to have a white blanket, I wanted to put it over the questions, I wanted to pretend that everything is pristine and innocent. I wanted to forget the cruel world out there. I don't have a white blanket, nothing can be covered, I have to face what is under it.

The snowflakes touched the ground, whiteness engulfed the street and I saw it; PEACE and SILENCE tangled up in one hovering above me. Come, cover me with your white blanket!

Finding the Magic

Once a year, in the month of December, many of us becoming wild eyed kids, full of anticipation. You can feel it in the air, on the streets, even on the subway. The month has this mysterious aura about it. Whether or not you celebrate Christmas (which I don't), the annual hunt for magic has been declared.

It is difficult not to give in to the bright lights, the special smells, the snowy landscape - if you live in the Northern Hemisphere- and the promise to receive something. This time of the year supposed to be magical, but what is magic?

We humans, seek out new things, constantly looking for THAT special thing or someone. We are eternal magic hunters. We may think magic is unattainable, it is surreal, even paranormal. If we find something exciting we equate that with magic, but once the novelty wears off, we are ready to discard it and look for the next thing.

Magic is constant, all encompassing and has one source, YOU. Yes, YOU hold the key to perpetuate this wonderful thing called MAGIC. It is within you, no need  for special dates in the calendar to bring it out.

Before you run and dive into this artificially enhanced magic hunt, take a step back and look no further than yourself. You are nothing short of being this exciting, radiant,  mysterious being. Your inner magic overflows, becomes contagious and in no time everyone around you will find THAT THING they have been looking for.

Christmas is only one day, YOUR magic is eternal.

Have a wonderful December!