This morning I am sitting on my back patio, listening to the rain fall by lamplight. It’s “winter” here in south Florida, which means the sweltering heat is gone and we can enjoy some outdoor activity and not be instantly soaked in sweat. I’ve got a citronella candle going (because while the heat takes a break, mosquitos […]
Author Archive | Ro Pinto
The Christmas Story – God’s Judgement
Last week I attended a bible study at the church I used to attend. The subject was ‘Finding God’s Will’. This particular discussion centered on who God is. Everyone described his attributes – love, compassion, merciful, unchanging. I raised my hand to read from Exodus, where God reveals Himself to Moses. Before I was called on, […]
It’s Simple
I believe Yeshua is God. Not sure how that works, but I still haven’t figured out how He was in the burning bush, or the pillar of fire, or hovering over the waters at creation, yet still in heaven. But God is God. He says it and it is. I trust that when Yeshua said, “I […]
Is It Okay to Keep Family Traditions?
Good morning from Jacksonville, Florida. It is a fine, chilly morning here – especially for me. I am surrounded by my grandchildren, which are always a delight, even if they can sometimes be a lot of work – work that an old Nona is not used to anymore. As we age, we don’t realize that […]
High Holy Days to Hurricane to Israel to…
Happy Thanksgiving! It’s been just over three days since I’ve been home and I am still caught somewhere between Israel and the U.S. – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Is this jet lag? If it is, it’s not the kind I’ve experienced before. I did end up with an extremely high fever on Sunday, but come […]
We Are Here!
Good morning from Jerusalem! Strange as it may sound, it feels like I never left. Could it be because it feels like home, here? This journey has been different from the last, a bit more hectic. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. You see, this year I am traveling with nine companions instead of […]
Christmas at Sukkot?
I am writing to you today from under the sukkah. About three years ago, I decided I wanted my own sukkah; I wanted to experience the joy of this season. Believe it or not, it really has added to my joy. You see, I love the Christmas holiday. I love the reason for the season […]
Stop the World, I Want to Get Off!
When life becomes a whirling merry-go-round spinning out of control, do you want to cry out, “Stop the world, I want to get off!”? This was my mother’s favorite saying. As a child, I could never understand why she said that. After all, life was fun! It was full of adventure – even if I […]
PTSD vs God
Many of you know that I live in sunny south Florida. On most days, it is a beautiful place to live. On others, not so much. The recent scare of Hurricane Matthew bearing down on us caused me to realize that my faith is not as strong as I’d hoped. In the battle of PTSD […]
Let the Holidays Begin!
As you know, our temple family is encouraged to celebrate Shabbat in our homes for four weeks. I am loving it! The first of our celebrations happened this past Shabbat in my home, where 16 of us gathered to feast on a night of Italian cuisine. What else would you expect from a little Sicilian […]