“The Rabbis do not teach us to praise or to thank God for the bad. Praise and thanks for suffering is a game for masochists and fools. We are only taught to bless the Eternal, to humbly bend our knees and to present this gift of our understanding to the Holy One, Blessed Be.”
“I dreamed of certain outcomes. But it’s the ones I didn’t see coming that feel exactly right—beshert.”
“Fred and I shared a love for skiing and hiking. We had the same values about family life; he took care of the children when I was busy with lectures and talk shows. He loved Miriam like his own daughter and ended up legally adopting her. He was a wonderful father to her and Joel—our son. We all miss him.”
Our first wedding dance was an Argentine Tango. Marrying a dance instructor, the pressure was on. Most grooms just have to avoid stepping on the bride’s feet or dress, twirl her a couple of times and make it through 3-4 minutes without doing the “high school prom sway.” I had to perform.
We chose the tango because once on a trip to New York City, we’d seen the Broadway show “Forever Tango!” and fell in love with the dancing. Learning it was an eight-month project.
Then I saw her. Across the crowded room. Dancing alone in a red dress. It wasn’t just her beauty. It was a spirit emanating from her being. I approached her and we talked a bit. I found out her name was Rusti. Enchanting. But she was swarmed by other boys—she was beautiful, talented and smart.
Nevertheless, when I returned to my fraternity house that night, I told my brothers that I would marry her. It was love at first sight.
