Back from a trip to Savannah.
Since the end of Shovavim, I have continued to work on gratitude to Debbie. I always need to work more on learning from other people, sensing their needs. I also continue to work on hope, even though the stories are becoming more inhuman.
I am interesting in finding more ways to get students engage in their learning and living. I found that around 50% of the students are just passengers or achievers - more interested in the prizes than in the process, journey.
We have had snow challenges. Our AM flight to Savannah was cancelled and pushed us to stay over night in DCA Reagan. More gratitude to Debbie. We got to the Hyatt Regency in time for the opening dinner at Churchill's across the street in a room that allowed for shouting discussions.
I had a poster up by 7:45 am for the two hour poster session. I sat by the poster, plugged in doing "grading" and talking with people who came by to have breakfast. I didn't find much interest in my poster, but did learn about the politics of higher education in Southeast USA. The system will be a-changin'. I told a leader from the US Air Force that SoTL should be Scholarship for Learning and Teaching. I had changed our graduate course name from Teaching and Learning 25 years ago. She said (perhaps sarcastically) that I was ahead of out time.
On Thursday, we went for a walk to the Trolley Stop and got on one of the last tours of the city. We stopped to learn about how expensive sweet grass weaving in at City Market.
The conference featured for me two Breakfasts with grits and two Luncheons with chicken and salmon. It was in a conference room with the river view. I tried to visit each poster. The sessions were a challenge because I was worried by the charge in my know tool. Mostly faculty who wanted to justify the learning process by using complex research processes. I asked why have this organization when most of the learning-teaching research is considered in other organizations. For me, it was a way to get away and to use resources that were available to me.
Along the way, I lost my TBI wool cap, were mislaid about the 6 am service at Cong. Mikveh Israel, and took a flight with Breeze. More time walking across streets holding Debbie's hand. Our neighbors told Debbie that I gave them a cold. I will visit less and let Mabel Fiona find me.
Planning for the future, we need to make our plans to perhaps see the eclipse over the Atlantic in August. I also am thinking of purposing a trip to the Bay Area for next spring break 2027.
We watched hundreds of crow nesting in the trees surrounded our house last evening at dusk. It was a traditional day for me. I listened to the Super Bowl, ate leftovers from Willibrew, and did our taxes. I had had little sleep the night before, worrying about how one reports Qualified Charitable Distibutions on the 1040SR form.
It has been a cold, snowy winter. I used Debbie's snow shoes to build a path to our neighbors. We spent some time with Mabel last week. She is beginning to try out sounds and touch faces. She was 4 months old on 2/7.
This morning is the Monday of Parashat Mishpatim. Rav Jeremy celebrates A.D. Gordon in his liturgy. Because it snowed on Saturday morning, we had services on ZOOM rather than the Bagels and Bible discussion of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel's Shabbat.
I opened a new webpage for these reflections, for 2026. Every day starts a new year.
On snow in Rabbi Laitman's Zohar -
On a day of snow, on the day misfortunes descend from the Supernal Court Above, it is written, “Her household shall not fear snow,” that is, the Supernal Court, called “snow.” For her household is clothed twofold, and can thereby endure a strong fire. So the book says.
After Malchut acquires these two fires, she weakens the strictness of the cold snow with her fire.
I live with a woman of valor who keeps us warm.
I am working on WHY? this morning, the unexamined life. I asked the people in my learning communities to think about what sort of learners they are. One joker in each of the undergraduate courses identified as Resistors. There were a mix of Passengers and Achievers. Approaching half were Explorers. Do college students often have a chance to explore ideas to form their own paths? I am fortunate and happy to think of exploring since I am nearing the end of my paths.
While look for references on children in the Zohar, I was introduced to the legends of Naamah and the two angels/demons rules of the early earth -
And these two Creator-appointed rulers swim in the Great Sea, fly up from there, and at night go to Naamah, the mother of witches, for whom the first people fell.
Shovavim, for some, is about resisting the alluring nature of women and sex. I am influenced by Riane Eisler's The Chalice and the Blade, about the struggle between the female and male spirits in the world. One who loves peace, no fighting or shouting, clings to the female essence of the world. The story these days is that we live under a male ruler who is of questioned sanity, much as we did 250 years ago in this "new world". Destruction is a symbol for male power and a simple way of avoiding the reality of the brief time we have on this planet. In place of living to make stories and share ideas and to keep each other warm during these days with slowly increasing light.
Thursday, 25 Shevat 5786 - 12 February 2026
This is the Thursday of Parashat Mishpatim, last morning of Shovavim. Rav Jeremy celebrates the lives of Clara Lemlich and Rose Schneiderman.
The crows are calling in the trees above our homes. I presented on the learner modes of my students and then, in a lunch in Hurley about The Opposite of Cheating, told the group that I called AI - Augmented Imagination - and my slogan - Sage on Stage, Guide on Side, Elder as Melder. I am showing Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Half-Time Show in my classes, so that the students might be my consultants and tell me more about the video.
Our neighbors believe that we are causing their rashes, that they are allergic to Debbie and me. I will share the ingredient list of our laundry soap, soap we have been using for awhile - Berkeley Jensen Ultra Laundry soap. And the other soaps and hand creams we have been using.
I forgot that one of my students' grandmother died. She got upset when I told her to turn in the work she missed, saying one point deducted for every day late. I had to find the email that she had sent me via Eastern email, instead of in the course. I am sorry. She left upset and when I found the email, I wrote her and asked her to catch up by next Monday evening. I am sorry that I was thoughtless on this matter. During the moment, while looking for the email, one of the students told me that he would have to go out and breakfast during Ramadan, which starts next Wednesday. It will be the new moon, so it will also be Chinese new year. I wonder if Shovavim ends before the new moon most months.
This Shovavim was eventful. I sometimes had eating events so I didn't always fast. I also have been drinking teas and juice. I have been trying to learn to be more patient, to wait to speak, and to be engaged in events on campus, at synagogue, and in the community. I have been learning every day. Also been going to the student center gym on most weekdays. During Shovavim, I went to my urologist, eye doctor, and will be going to my oncologist -my PSA came back at 0.04. I seem well. I have also been wearing my message t-shirt over my button down shirt like a vest and my Temple Bnai Israel wool cap as a kipa. I try to not worry too much, but the world seems to pose large problems and dangers every day.