I won't be going to Israel this summer. It makes me sad, but it made no sense to go when my employment status at JCRC is so unclear. I've made no decisions and closed no doors, but it seemed imprudent to have me invest in new long term relationships.
So what am I thinking about these days? Well, on the Israel front it is the new anti-boycott law and other measures that, in my humble opinion (remember, not necessarily the positions of my employers) hurt Israel's ability to make the case that it is the bastion of democracy in the middle east. On the home front, I am looking forward to our trip to California this summer, albeit to take G-Dubbs to his new adventure at Pitzer college. We will miss him terribly but I am very excited to see what this next chapter of his life will bring. Pretty banal stuff, I admit. But family is really the only important thing -- as I have learned far too well in the last month and a half.
So what does the future hold for me? Doors are opening and new possibilities await. JCRC will be in good hands whether I am there or not. The Jewish people will continue to survive and thrive even if I am not there professionally. No one is irreplaceable but only a small few are irrepressible. I am the latter.
So, at 44, it's time to turn a page. Should I go the easy way out and stick around, or find something in my "wheelhouse"? Or should I explore the great unknown? Maybe I can find a way to do both...
I will be writing more, that's for sure. I'm going to try to get a few articles published... so you can look for those. Something will be coming out soon... Just waiting for my co-author to come back from vacation.
Stay tuned... it's going to be a hell of a ride and as Lady Macbeth said "Screw your courage to the sticking place and we'll not fail."
And, by the way, I'd love suggestions and any good advice you have.
So here I go.
