She held it back for a bit, and then she couldn’t anymore. When she hugged her Special Ed teacher Ms. Tracey goodbye, she burst out crying.

After three years of Middle School at Anderson, Zeesy graduated 8th grade, leaving behind this special haven of awesomeness. She was so sad to leave and who could blame her? She was immersed in a world of love, light and so much personal attention. Her crying made me, Chavie and the teachers cry too, but it was tears of joy, tears of appreciation, knowing that our daughter was enveloped with so much care in a place that cherished her for who she is. Chavie and I will be forever grateful to Anderson, as well as Sacajawea and Longfellow for giving our kiddos a place to grow.

In this week’s Torah portion, Shelach, we read about the tears of fear that paralyzed the Jews upon hearing the report from ten of the twelve spies who returned from Israel with a message of doom and gloom. G-d had already promised the Jews that He would take them into the Holy Land, there was no reason to be worried, but they cried and cried and cried some more. G-d said “You wept in vain; I will establish it for you as a time of weeping for all generations” which later became Tisha B’Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. Crying reflects overwhelm and it’s therapeutic, there’s nothing like a good cry, but crying over an imaginary fear is something we expect of children, not mature adults who believe that G-d runs the world.

As a parent, there’s nothing that makes me more delighted than seeing our children treated well and happy. I’ve said this for a long time; we are so blessed in Bozeman to have educators that genuinely care about each child and their unique needs. Renowned author and child therapist Haim Ginott writes that “Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.” While society may focus a bit too much on the academics, “no child left behind”, aiming to ensure that our kids will succeed in college, Chavie and I are appreciative that Bozeman’s educators aren’t just focused on academics, but on training the youth to see their innate value, to reveal their talents and abilities, and do so with warmth and an understanding that no two children are alike. If my kids are going to cry, I prefer it to be tears of gratitude.

Congrats Zeesy and go rock it in High School!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!

We’ve got a lot on our plate.

On a good day, life is busy around here, but busy has meant a lot more as of late. For ten consecutive weeks, starting with Passover preparation in March, through the week of Bar Mitzvah week festivities, our guest speakers, the holiday of Shavuos, kid related trips to DC and NY, a Bar Mitzvah in Jackson Hole, and just daily life at our home and Shul, it hasn’t stopped. Chavie and I needed a break to rest and re-energize for the busy summer season ahead. So, with the blessed help of Rabbi Mendel and Brocha, who held down the fort with the three kiddos at home, we escaped for three nights to enjoy each other’s company and catch our breath.

It was wonderful.

In this week’s Torah portion, Behaalosecha, we read about the Jewish People Kvetching in the desert, complaining to Moses and demanding meat. G-d’s Manna from heaven didn’t do it for the Jews, they needed barbeque. This is one of many times that the Jews were ungrateful due to this, that and the other. Moses was pretty tolerant of their nastiness, but at times it was too much even for him, and he said to G-d “…I cannot carry the responsibility of this entire people alone, for it is too hard for me…If this is the way You want to treat me, please kill me first, if I have found favor in Your regard, so that I not see my evil.” There was no prophet like Moses, so perhaps he didn’t need a break, we see that with people like the Rebbe who never vacationed, but the rest of us need an occasional retreat, a change of scenery and pace, to recharge.

I try to remind myself that “growth often happens in the pause, not just in the hustle”. When one is a workaholic such as myself, it’s not easy to pause, but when I do, I realize how beneficial it is for me, my family, my community and the vital goals I have set out to achieve. Even during break, I still work at the crack of dawn, I just can’t help myself and there are always things that are due, but the down time, not rushing, the slower pace, not doing all the pickups and drop-offs, not talking to humans, no soccer and track, it helps reset the body and mind. It is my hope that someday I will succeed in finding calm even in the daily work, in the rhythm of life, and until then I will wait for the next Mensch club to have my monthly cigar and chill with the boys.

Deep breathes; deep breaths.