16 Comments
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Bryan Demchinsky's avatar

Your words reminded me of those of the great Canadian poet Milton Acorn (1923-86):

I shout love at petals peeled open

by stern nurse fusion-bomb sun,

terribly like an adhesive bandage,

for love and pain, love and pain

are companions in this age.

Keep shouting love.

Susie Kaufman's avatar

Love and pain are indeed companions. There's no grace in being present to the beauty and blocking out all the suffering. It, too, is sacred. Thanks for introducing me to a new poet, Bryan.

Renée's avatar

Just beautiful. Thank you Susie!

Susie Kaufman's avatar

Thank you so much, Renée. It's a joy to hear from you.

Deborah Schein's avatar

Once again, such stirring words

Susie Kaufman's avatar

Internet restored! Hoping you're well and looking forward to seeing you at the teaching shabbat. Extraordinary material.

Jinks Hoffmann's avatar

What a powerful invitation to love the world, lahmrot ha-kohl, despite all...

Susie Kaufman's avatar

Thank you so much for that, Jinks. That is a new piece of Hebrew for me and I will treasure it.

Lee Buchanan's avatar

Thank you Susie from the other side of the globe. So very inspiring, especially at this crazy time of the year x

Susie Kaufman's avatar

I hadn't even really given much thought to the calendar...but yes, the dissonance of the reality on the ground with the promise of light is really jarring.

Sonia Pilcer's avatar

Beautifully written. Our world is so very sad.

Happy Hanukkah. 🕎

Susie Kaufman's avatar

A very happy chanukah to you and Mort and Jake and his family. The snow is falling and I'm making soup so in this moment, I'm feeling safe. But really none of us is safe. Thanks for reading and writing to me.

Susie Kaufman's avatar

Many blessings on a snowy day in Minnesota, Pam.

Jan Peppler's avatar

Love the world. Yes. All of it. Even the parts that feel hard or ugly or difficult. Not easy yet three simple words that as a mantra move past our lips and our heads, sinking deep into the heart and growing from there. Reminds me of the instruction from the Talmud: "Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it"

So wish I could visit Rebecca's bakery! I spent a month in Ethiopia and am intrigued by her time in Naples. Her pastry sounds divine. Yes, divinity in food, food made by hand, food made by love. I just returned from another trip to Italy and, always, I miss the pastries!

Susie Kaufman's avatar

This place is such an oasis in a dismal part of the city. It's Rebecca and her husband and daughter giving birth to something beautiful.