A young friend and former student of mine recently asked her Facebook network for suggestions as to what books she ought to buy as first steps in building a serious Jewish library.

Previously, on Facebook:

We have broken two wine glasses in two days.

Karen: I think this is God’s way of telling us not to drink so much.
Paula: I think this is God’s way of telling us to drink from the bottle.

Based on the long thread of comments that followed,

Adonai spoke to Moses, saying:  “Go and tell Pharaoh, King of Egypt, to let the Israelites depart from his land.” But Moses appealed to Adonai, saying: “The Israelites would not listen to me; how then should Pharaoh heed me, a man of impeded speech!” (Exodus 6

I’d like to share a recent self- revelation: deep down inside, my soul is the soul of a None. No, I didn't spell that wrong. I’m not referring to a Catholic nun of course! Let me explain.

I understand that technology can be overwhelming.

Shabbat is a time to unplug. Otherwise, there will be no Shabbat.

I’ve been a mikveh guide for about a year. Because I work from my house and can make my own hours, I’ve been called on often for the many men who have used Mayyim Hayyim, Boston’s 21^st-century mikveh, for a variety of reasons: upcoming weddings, conversions,

Alan Morinis is the founding director of The Mussar Institute, and the author of the books Climbing Jacob's Ladder and Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar as well as an RJ magazine article about Musar, "Practice, Practice, Practice," and an accompanying Musar study guide. He was interviewed by then RJ editor Aron Hirt-Manheimer.