I hate this conversation. For the rest of the way we talked about the economic development of Orlando and the weather. This woman has not lost her dream goal of a son who more or less lives Jewishly the way she does. I felt bad, but I didn t know what to do for her. I felt guilty about that.
Guilt is a great motivator.
I decided that I finally needed to write this piece. I ve been stuck on that ride to the airport with far too many equally ambivalently concerned Jewish parents of day school kids to whom I ve had nothing productive to say. It always feels too late. This piece will finally be pro-active. I want to have told the truth as I see it.