Last night started the celebration of the Jewish New Year.  We say L’Shanah Tova to wish others a good year.  

Last week the news reported that a thirty-two-year-old man had died after riding the “Stardust Racers” extreme roller coaster at Epic Universe. So far, investigators have ruled the manner of death an accident. The victim, according to the medical examiner had sustained “multiple blunt impact injuries.”  

Almost every morning my breakfast includes a banana.  Thus the title of comic Jeff Ross’ Broadway Show struck a nerve when I read about it: “ Jeff Ross: Take A Banana For The Ride.” I had to attend the show, which Shelly and I did last weekend at the Nederlander Theatre, to learn the connection: his grandfather would always tell Jeff to take a banana on his way to a gig, etc. 

I grew up in a household where having a different opinion was okay. You had to justify what you believe, but it was okay that you felt different. I remember countless arguments between my Sister and my Dad.   Today, we live in a culture where silencing voices with whom you disagree has become the norm. Instead of debating ideas, too many resort to shutting people down or not even talking to them. The push to "cancel" someone simply because their words or views make others uncomfortable.  

Recent tragic events hark back to the Civil War when there were innumerable instances of brothers fighting brothers on the battle field. As unimaginable and horrible as this may have been, I sense and fear a reoccurrence.  

I first learned this as a young student reading the Hebrew text of the “Ethics of the Fathers”. My loose translation from the Hebrew is “Who is rich?

As I write this blog on my phone due to my technology nightmare, please forgive any spelling or gramtical errors.

Well done.    Having grown up with Billy Joel as his music career grew up, I thoroughly enjoyed this “backstage” story of a man born and raised in Hicksville, Long Island – the town from which I commute every day.