Two Jews (one of them, me, Israeli), a Black pastor, and the rest of a multi-ethnic, Boston city trauma response team, walk into a…Chabad school. Not a bar, but it still sounds like the opening line of an ethnic joke. … Read More
Stay Tuned for my upcoming Publication in The Boston Globe Magazine on September 30, 2018 and for those of you who are fasting this Yom Kippur good luck and Shana Tova. If you haven’t yet had the chance to … Read More
Home is not where I live with my husband. Home is not where I raised my kids. Home is the Artist’s loft, the place I always imagined I’d live if I wasn’t living on a small kibbutz in the middle … Read More
My workshop instructor at The William Joiner Center for The Study of War and Social Consequences, asked me to write about “The room I know best.” The room I know best is my car. I’m in it a lot. At a red light, … Read More
There are certain situations in which I meet someone for the first time and realize I am being pigeon-holed, stereotyped, or prejudged. In these moments I sometimes find it beneficial to mention that I served in the Israeli army. Regardless of what … Read More
Hello my friends and Blogster Buddies! Please check out my article in the latest issue of The Palestine/Israel Journal. The issue is dedicated to: Lessons from the Northern Ireland Peace Process (Vol.22 No.1, 2017 ). Follow the link: http://www.pij.org/details.php?id=1743 Featuring … Read More
Mr. Trump, the greatest threat to this country is hunger and poverty. Please spend $15 Billion Dollars to end that! Although related, food insecurity and poverty are not the same. Poverty in the United States is only one of many … Read More
“He proved again that anyone who exposes him, anyone who does not share his hysterical disregard for decency and human dignity and the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, must be either a Communist or a fellow traveler.” Holy Cannolii people — … Read More
Nixon believed that-the civil rights movement went too far; that democrats were too lenient on communism-and were too liberal for America. President Richard Nixon despised social workers! He felt that they catered to the undeserving poor. So imagine my surprise … Read More
“Doesn’t it feel great to be right?” My friend Miriam Herschlag said to me, and I felt ashamed. I was going on about some systemic injustice or institutional racism, or just everyday disparagement of my advocacy efforts and she stopped … Read More
We used to sing this lines from the Israeli national anthem to tease our friend Tiki — which is short for Tikva which means hope in Hebrew. We have yet to give up hope… is the translation. Those words in the anthem … Read More
The kibbutz library was in a bomb shelter, but I wasn’t afraid of bombs. I was afraid of the harshness of the desert, a shore with no sea. I was afraid of the harshness of the people drenched in angry … Read More
My father Bert (that’s Dr. Bert to you!) Is the Belmont Manor Buddha. Belmont Manor’s lobby reminds you of a country inn, but it is in fact a nursing home. This week we were discussing the upcoming election when he pointed out … Read More
Globe Magazine @BostonGlobeMag 4h4 hours ago A teen from inner city Boston gets Elie Wiesel’s message [Read the article]
The paintings are hung on the walls, the cheese and crackers are warming up, the bathroom is clean — come see me and my work at the 23rd Annual Jamaica Plain OPEN STUDIOS Sept 17-18 / 11am-6pm, 57 Brookside Ave., Unit 12 some people … Read More
After ArtSeed at The Marble House Colony my friend, Artist Leslie Fry said to me: “For a brief moment this is how I saw you tonight.” She was referring to this painting: A Bar at the Folies-Bergère painted and exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1882. It was the last major … Read More
Yup, there’s been a lot of broohaha about Boston Children’s Hospital paving over a garden in order to expand the hospital. In the mix, Joan Vennochi of The Boston Globe points out that Partners Healthcare’s Neighborhood Health Plan will no longer … Read More
The sad day has come to say good-bye to the Marble House Project. Here’s my first reading of Here But Often There: The Clinical Adventures of a Bulletproof Therapist. Thank you Nicole K., Hamra Abbas, Celine L. Keisha Turner Mary … Read More
Didn’t realize it was done until Sarah said: “I think this one’s done.” Sometimes that’s how it is. Relationships too! So I ran to the picture framers. This one’s going to be sold at JP Open studios Sept. 17 and … Read More
Lisa Fliegel / Bonnie Raitt My new friend Chris who when I first met him I wanted to call him Steve, for some reason, said to me the other day at the Marlble House Project: “I grew up on movies, … Read More
Marble House Project is a multi-disciplinary artist residency program in Dorset, Vermont that fosters collaboration and the exchange of ideas by providing an environment for artists across disciplines to live and work side by side. This reading took place in … Read More
In my never ending quest to bring an end to all human suffering. I admit to using un-orthodox methods of advocacy and clinical treatment. The result is usually some improvement to the life of the clients and my own banishment … Read More
Lisa Fliegel / Slides borrowed from: David Keller, M.D. I was driving to the gym today and thought: “Gee whiz, I wish had time to get some gas.” With a longing gaze I passed East Side Gas, reading the sign posted in red above the … Read More
Maya Angelou had a birthday recently. This is a creative approach at showcasing one of my favorite quotes by her. “Youthful cynicism is sad to observe, because it indicates not so much knowledge learned from bitter experiences as insufficient trust … Read More
Tonight’s rain pulsing deceptive, a simple erratic rhythm . My window welcomes that absent muse — a soft and insistent baritone-rain saying: “You were wrong , this is no time for sleeping.” Compose, Compose, Compose.
I’m goin’ to the MarbleHouse Project to Finish Dat Chaptah The Mission Marble House Project nurtures the imaginative spirit. Through artist residencies, workshops and sustainable agriculture, Marble House Project promotes an innovative atmosphere and exchange of ideas. Inspiration, contemplation and … Read More
Yes I read Hadassah Magazine. My Bubby made me a life member. And boy what a life I’ve had! Tanta Roslyn made sure I got my magazine — and boy what a Tanta she was! Feisty, hardworking, opinionated matriarchs. Well … Read More
Remember my master class with Colum McCan? Well he talked about the importance of research to your writing. I was happy for that because there’s nothing I love more than the ins and outs of the labyrinth of information that … Read More
Lisa Fliegel and The Weavers — Irwin Herschlag was my get up and go. If he called and said: “I’m coming to Boston,” I would reply: “What time am I picking you up at the bus?” The last time he visited … Read More
So at my workshop Michael, the ex-fire-fighter, ex-brooklyn DA said: “That title doesn’t work — too long.” Now Michael is an amazing writer and I do look forward to his book being published and watching folks read it on the … Read More
Lisa Fliegel with some help from Colum McCan — A couple of weeks ago I had one of my periodic perseverative moments of self-doubt and loathing where I see myself as the perptual odd-ball-out. This book that I’m writing seems … Read More
Riverside Trauma Center www.riversidetraumacenter.org — Here’s a New Year’s Resolution For You! Explain in an age appropriate manner: Hopefully parents or guardians will be the first to talk with children about an event that may affect your child. Try to … Read More
One of my favorite bands is The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars. They sing a song: “Living like a refugee is not easy….” One day in 2004 I was driving with Sarah B. over the Charles River. We were taking SA to the Dance … Read More
A moment of crisis becomes a moment of opportunity when: 1) We view a crisis as a shared challenge rather than our own personal predicament 2) Our organizational process is flexible 3) Our organizational … Read More
Lisa Fliegel with Words from Eran Halperin — Researchers found that showing people extreme versions of ideas that confirmed — not contradicted — their opinions on a deeply divisive issue actually caused them to reconsider their stance and become more receptive … Read More
Tragedy is not a competiton; it’s not a suffering olympics where the goal is the gold medal of atrocity. In a recent New York Times article and a subsequent NPR story the journalist Anne Barnard commented that we need to … Read More
Lisa Fliegel – Erev, Erev Christmas Trauma exposure & disability Students who experience traumatic events while growing up in poor, turbulent neighborhoods could be considered disabled, a federal judge has ruled in a high-profile case involving the Compton, Calif., schools. … Read More
Lisa Fliegel, Woody Allen, Ben Shahn — “Where there is a book there is no sword” — Ben Shahn 1950 Now that I think of it, there must have been 10 of us. The side seats were five to a row, … Read More
I was with my friend Abrigal Forrester the other day. We were talking about Trauma and he used the term Practice-based Evidence. I was so excited to hear that phrase for the first time. Too often front-line trauma workers feel burdened, stymied, and barricaded by the … Read More
Last post was about trauma so this one will be about resilience. I love this passage from David Nicholl’s book (Vintage, NY, 2009. Pg. 433) One Day. Live each day of your life as if it’s your last.’ That was the … Read More
Lisa Fliegel + Woody Allen + Ben Shahn — In 9th grade I went to see the movie Annie Hall in Newton Center with a big group of friends. It was a sweet little theatre you could walk to from … Read More
I wrote this years ago, but it floated back up — in light of Trump’s recent theatrics: The ‘Alta Zachyn’ man makes his way around the neighborhood most mornings looking for old and used things to be bought and resold. He makes … Read More
I know. I can’t stop talking about Dan Ephron’s book. On page 145 he asks, referring to the Oslo Peace Accords: “was it genuinely ending its role over the Palestinians or merely repositioning its occupation?” Dan also talks about (pg 134) … Read More
Oy vey! Bryan Stevenson, one of my all time favorites, asked this question in his book “Just Mercy.” So I’ve been trying to figure it out. So it goes with hate speech. So it goes with fear. When I was a kid watching … Read More
UFORGE Gallery 767 Centre Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Join us for the start of some local holiday shopping at Uforge Gallery at 5:30PM from Thursday, December 3 through Tuesday, December 22. Over 50 artists and artisans will have … Read More
Sherrill Jaffe/Lisa Fliegel posts One way to deal with an obstacle which lies in your path is to remove it. But if you find after applying pressure that it will not give way — and there are, finally, those areas … Read More
המקום בו אנו צודקים מאת יהודה עמיחי מן המקום שבו אנו צודקים לא יצמחו לעולם .פרחים באביב המקום שבו אנו צודקים הוא קשה ורמוס .כמו חצר אבל ספקות ואהבות עושים את העולם לתחוח .כמו חפרפרת, כמו חריש ולחישה תשמע במקום … Read More
Something I hadn’t considered since 1969. Did you watch the Apollo 10 launched from Cape Kennedy on May 18, 1969, on a black and white TV, with spindly antennas and fuzzy reception? Prior to that moment in my fourth grade … Read More
Two weeks ago one of the young people I advocate for was arrested. While he was being processed at the jailhouse he was asked a series of routine questions, one of which is: “Have you ever considered harming yourself?” I … Read More
During yesterday’s press conference Obama got a tad miffed when reporters seemed to ask him the same question over and over again. In synonymous terms the question was something like: “Do you even have a clue of what’s going on in … Read More
by Sara Kreimer, May 5, 2014 EXCERPT: The next day, Lisa Fliegel, the relentlessly energetic journalist-organizer the Center had hired to coordinate our planned Middle East textile conference, bounced into the office with an idea. “Let’s put on our … Read More
By Maria Cramer, July 3, 2013 …Authorities have announced that there will be new security checkpoints on the Esplanade and tough new bans that will prohibit visitors from carrying in backpacks, coolers on wheels, cans, glass containers, premixed beverages, liquids greater than … Read More
By Neil Swidey, May 10, 2013 “I was at mile 25.6 when they stopped the race,” Bryson tells Lisa Fliegel, a trauma therapist who had shown up to volunteer her services. “I could have made it to the finish line.” … Read More
By Meghan E. Irons, Globe Staff / April 30, 2010 [READ FULL ARTICLE]