Disqus - Latest Comments for peterhimmelman

Re: The Penitent’s Note

peterhimmelman — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 18:29:54 -0000

I'm grateful it helped. Anger is so prevelant. And like the mosquito, it's very hard to determine exactly what benefit it brings to mankind. Magic is what we need to sweep it aside. Perhaps it's the magic of faith in something larger than ourselves.

Re: The Penitent’s Note

peterhimmelman — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 18:26:43 -0000

My pleasure. I'm glad you'd viewed the piece as such.

Re: The Penitent’s Note

peterhimmelman — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 16:42:49 -0000

Sal, why the good Dr. Rice chose that particular specialty is beyond me. But clearly, he's got a direct line to a Higher Power. Nice to hear from you!

Re: Fear/Loss/Death/Prayer/Faith/Love

peterhimmelman — Thu, 18 May 2017 18:57:14 -0000

Well, Yahudel... I'm gonna throw this one back at ya. Can we have love without faith? I think they work best in tandem.

Re: Sleep My Child (Jewish Blues In The Goldene Medina)

peterhimmelman — Mon, 15 May 2017 12:38:06 -0000

Thanks Yahudel. I think anyone who's come here trying to escape grave danger has a lot to teach us. Songs included!

Re: Sh*t I Believe

peterhimmelman — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 18:21:48 -0000

Wait... Billye, I thought I went over the math perfectly in my head. Didn't I say in the article that the girl's pieces of pie were getting smaller as she grew older? Isn't that the same as saying they get shorter. Sort of a smaller/shorter kind of thing? But I'm sure glad you liked the article and that it reminded you of the great Jimmy Buffet. All the best!

Re: The Things That Matter Most (My Pre-Passover Tune-Up)

peterhimmelman — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 20:48:51 -0000

David, thank you for this warm and supportive post. Wishing you a happy, healthy Pesach.

Re: The Things That Matter Most (My Pre-Passover Tune-Up)

peterhimmelman — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 19:45:27 -0000

Beautiful points Steven. I take your words to heart. Happy, health, liberating Pesach.

Re: The Things That Matter Most (My Pre-Passover Tune-Up)

peterhimmelman — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 19:12:03 -0000

The VA... they've got a ways to go, as do we all. I'll make sure to point out that healthful behaviors don't equate to vapidness. It's a really good point Rachel
.

Re: The Piety Test

peterhimmelman — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 10:32:08 -0000

I guess what I'm reacting to —and you may never have had this experience—is a sort of, holier than thou attitude. That's where "religious" people have discounted my thoughts and life experiences because they didn't fit into their myopic view of how a religious person should think and feel. They've wanted to sell me on the idea that they've got something so rarified, nothing can compare to it. No question I haven't hit the mark in depicting this idea in my piece. Good thing these posts are iterative.

Re: The Piety Test

peterhimmelman — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 10:18:39 -0000

Yael,

What you've just written here is very fair. It's quite possible that the way I've written the "salesman" idea is simply not strong enough to make my point. You're not the first to point this out. What I've tried to do is to depict individuals I've met along the way that have seemed disingenuous to me - and of course, I could be quite wrong about them as well. Perhaps the piece would be better if I impugned only myself for those times, I too have been a salesman. Thank you for your response.

Re: The Piety Test

peterhimmelman — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 18:06:21 -0000

Steve,

Thank you for your poetical post on my essay.

If I’m reading you correctly, you mourn that God is no longer the focus —or seems no longer —to be the focus of much Jewish spiritual practice. In particular, (as I gleaned it from your post) you mourn
that even among Chabad Chassidim, this seems to be the case.

If that’s the proper understanding of what you’ve written then I too, share your concerns.

I hope I didn’t give you the sense that having a cognizance of God isn’t possible, or worse, isn’t a goal. To the contrary, while I believe it’s a difficult goal —like anything challenging, from mastery of the piano or
creating healthy relationships, they are all still possible albeit, with great effort.

Wishing you health and joy my friend —and thank you for contributing to our understanding.

Shabbat shalom,

Peter

Re: The Piety Test

peterhimmelman — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 01:15:01 -0000

Dear uncle, I don't believe that the "animal part" of me limits my connection to God, especially not when it has been made to serve God as well. You are a great blessing to me.

Re: The Piety Test

peterhimmelman — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 21:53:09 -0000

Thanks Rivki, very much appreciated - 'specially comin from you!

Re: My Winding Road To Observant Judaism

peterhimmelman — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 08:04:33 -0000

Simcha, nice to know you're out there. The ARH is ours for the taking. It's a tight fit at first, once you squeeze through things look different don't they? I still like your mind!

Re: My Winding Road To Observant Judaism

peterhimmelman — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:31:57 -0000

Looking forward to more when we get together Sal.

Re: My Winding Road To Observant Judaism

peterhimmelman — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 20:38:54 -0000

Amen. And for you as well.

Re: Moving Toward A Qualitative Life

peterhimmelman — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 17:36:07 -0000

Richard,

I'm so sorry you had to go through all that turmoil. The reset button must have really turned your world upside down. I find that the "things" you describe are constantly on my mind. They need to managed. Somehow the intellect has to step in and say: 'I know you're alluring, I know you're even life-saving at time, but in terms of priorities, you're not first. There are other things, quieter things, more subtle things, that need to predominate.'

Thank you for this post. Blessings the "ever-lasting, real, and meaningful" to fill your life.

Re: 'Peter Himmelman's Furious World'

peterhimmelman — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:17:25 -0000

JIm

You should see my raina now. She deserves a whole other song!

Re: Was that a concert I heard in your living-room last night?

peterhimmelman — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:06:32 -0000

Steven,

Let it be known and heralded across the endless web, that you were the first to write about the Furious World.
That first article you wrote, which came just minutes after the show, was and still is so motivating to me. It gave me my first clear indication of the potential power and reach of what it is that we are trying to accomplish. I wish you all good things. Health, happiness, and passion to explore.

Be well,

Peter

Re: 'Peter Himmelman's Furious World'

peterhimmelman — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:53:19 -0000

Mark and Amy,

You guys have no idea how happy your post makes me. Even as recently as six months ago, I couldn't have dreamed I would be doing something like Furious World... Ok, maybe I might have dreamed it. But that's the point -and the exciting thing I suppose. To see one's dreams become manifest. Now you guys come along and tell me that you're snuggling up in Wisconsin to watch the show. It just pleases me to no end. Thank you so much for your support. Come travel together with us. i assure you, we'll go some interesting places.

Be well,

Peter