I. Boyhood dreams blaze through an old man’s gaze. Pure. A smile signalling what awaits. With urgent tears and a frantic heart I stare over the mechitza at my brothers. He’s going to kill himself. My father is going to kill himself on Rosh HaShana. He has one collapsed lung. The other is laced … More Holy One
‘Tis the season to share the love. Here’s what I’ve got: Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg had me questioning what gender equality means. I’m not fully on board with all her sentiments, but I see the value of acknowledging the nuance and working to find meaningful ways for men and women to take positive leadership … More Get Lit with Kit – January 2020
“In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man.” – Pirkei Avoth 2:6 Rashi’s Daughters: Book 1: Jocheved is a beacon of light in a time of darkness. The story unfurls the magical beauty of marriage as it’s preserved through Judaic law and extols the value of appreciation between the sexes. … More Be A Man
“Ring a ring o’ roses, A pocket full of posies, Ashes, ashes, We all fall down.” -Nursery Rhyme Camaraderie. Courage. Coping. A fractured society raises broken children and traumatized adults. Without a sense of connection, we humans fumble into the future, uprooted, unguided, and unstable. In his book Tribe, acclaimed journalist Sebastian Junger explores the … More The Circle Dance
Happy holiday season! I read M Scott Peck’s The Road Less Travelled. In it, he challenges the reader to explore what it means to live and love. The book pushed me to examine my habits, and now I wonder: Why do I repeat behaviors that I know are unhealthy? Chances are, you fall into certain … More Get Lit with Kit – December 2019
I became a classroom teacher in 2000 and a personal trainer and weightlifting coach in 2007. Through the years, I have worked with adults and children, helping them meet various and multiple goals. It’s always rewarding, and my experiences have informed the way I approach formal instruction. As parents and educators, we want our kids … More Student Success: Stress, Tests, and Mindfulness
Aliya* has had a difficult term. Her study habits are an area of extreme weakness; she is often unorganized and struggles to stay focused. There are times when instead of attending to class discussions, she engages in side conversations. Other times, she will miss key information and not copy notes into her notebook. Aliya … More Victim to Victor: Overcoming Adversity and Owning Your Future
All, I’m belated. But not lacking in excitement. Here’s a quick rundown: American Kingpin…the Amazon of drugs. This book had me hooked. Who Killed Homer? An insightful look at why schools (and people) are not what they once used to be. The Coddling on the American Mind A nice companion to the book above, describing … More Get Lit with Kit – October in November
This has been a great month for learning. I re-read Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self Reliance. It pushed me in directions I hadn’t considered when I read it in my youth. To help me reflect on the changes, I journaled on these logotherapy meditations. Logotherapy was born out of the great Viktor Frankl. If you aren’t … More Get Lit with Kit – September 2019
Books Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks fed my thirst for science. The intricately crafted plot touches on issues of epigenetics, morality, and humanity as the two protagonists delve into the world of medicine in an effort to discover the source and ease the suffering of the mentally insane. What fascinated me was the vastly different social … More Get Lit with Kit – August 2019
