Comments:
Never expected to, but moved to Cleveland at the end of 2023, first time living here as an adult. Felt like time to come home. Plus, my niece and nephew are here with their kids so now I can be more a part of their lives.
I've lived and worked lots of places, had wonderful travels and adventures. Parlayed art and writing into a career in marketing/PR mostly for large corporations in the Northeast. Moved back to Ohio (Cincinnati) in 2004 to be a quick drive from my parents in their last years. Miss them every day.
After Mom and Dad died, returned to my Jewish roots, Torah classes, all sorts of Jewish stuff. Had interviewed Dad on video while he lived at Menorah Park, just in time, fortunately, then spent a year adding photos, working with Western Reserve Archives and producing a finished story of his life from growing up in Jewish Cleveland during the Depression through his experience liberating Dachau, through his and mom's final years. His videos are now in the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, Yad Vashem and somewhere at the Maltz Museum. Most important project of my life; his memory living on for future generations. https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn707951. Inspired by my studies,
In 2019, I created a complement to the Passover Haggadah, "Passover for the Soul," with words and art designed to show how relevant the ancient story is to our modern-day hearts and minds. I sold out via Etsy, had a new batch printed but unfortunately my identity was stolen when I moved here and every aspect of my online life was breached including the theft of my shop on Etsy. Will have to rebuild...sometime.
I also created and launched an event series while at my Cincinnati synagogue, called Beyond Kosher, with speakers and all the evidence showing that modern agriculture has made it virtually impossible to live by our Jewish ethics and eat animal products--let alone to avoid heart disease, cancer, and stop destroying our Earth. But as my last speaker, the world-renowned Rabbi David Rosen pointed out, it's the wrong name. Eating plant-based is not "beyond" kosher but the realization of the meaning of kosher. But I believe I'm done leading events.
Been to Israel twice, including time with cousins in the Golan Heights. Enjoying many decades-long friendships in various parts of the country and now looking to build the same here. The reunions are SO FUN! Love to all. Stay well. Stay alive.
