Mike Stein

Okay, there were six Hassidim that were on the plane. I loved seeing them in their tallaisim and tefillin as we reached the time for Shema. It was a shock to the passengers, but I think that they were counting…

I am sitting in the air terminal waiting to go to Poland about LOT Airlines. I am looking around and seeing many Hassidic Jews and wondering why they are going to Poland—perhaps on a mission? I look closely at some…

I found myself looking back with great affection to the time that the acting bug first hit. In 1966-67, a program called "The Workshop" that the NYC Department of Parks offered.  Thousands of youth auditioned, and I was one of…

For me this year, preparing for Pesach, Passover, is not only about cleaning. It’s also about putting together the finishing touches for the Cantors Assembly "A True Feast of Freedom" Haggadah. Based on the experiences of a Cantors Assembly trip…

Betzalel was the artist endowed with Ruach Elohim, the spirit of God, who was tasked with using his talent to build the tabernacle in the desert. I have always understood the concept of a holy spirit, but not until now…

SOON TOO SOON 

"Soon" is the first Broadway musical I ever appeared in. And it opened and closed soon – too soon: after three days. I had worked for the director in a theater company on East 4th Street where…

Energy-we believe that we need to light the fire, wind the springs and halfway explode out of the starting gate to get things done. Once we learn that we don't need all of that extra force, we realize that we…

Today was an exceptional day. I was invited to be part of a panel that celebrated the legacy of Theodore Bikel z"l, called Remembering Theodore Bikel sponsored by the UCLA Milliken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience and Hillel…

Guess I'll try anything to find spirituality. When I was younger, so much younger than today, I searched for meaning in different worship and meditation forms. I became what is known as a Jew-boo, finding spirituality in chanting and soaring…

One of my students from many years ago sent an email that she has graduated OTS and will now head to Pensacola for more training. Of course, this reminded me of my days in the US Navy and my many…

Purim Day what a happy holiday. Something happened when I was a kid on Purim, either my costume was the problem or the food --I don't have the answer. I only know that it wasn't such a merry time for…

I  vividly remember the day I went to the animal shelter in the SFV to look at a poodle that a friend of mine said I had to see.  I went there absolutely sure that I would not take the…