MSI Press Blog

  The old saying “opposites attract” is one of those cultural clichés that refuses to die. But when you look closely at real relationships — friendships, marriages, co‑parenting partnerships — the picture is more nuanced. Opposites don’t attract because they’re opposite. They attract because each person carries something the other recognizes as stabilizing, intriguing, or quietly necessary. Nowhere is this more visible than in the dance between introverts and extroverts. This isn’t about stereotypes (“introverts hide; extroverts talk”). It’s about energy patterns, attention habits, and how two people can create a shared rhythm even when their natural tempos differ. Why the Attraction Happens 1. Complementary Energy Extroverts radiate outward. Introverts absorb inward. When the match is healthy, each person feels balanced rather than drained. The extrovert brings motion, momentum, and social ease. The introvert brings calm, depth, and emotional steadiness. It’s not “y...

  Recently,  An Afternoon's Dictation  (Greenebaum), reached #29 on the Amazon bestseller list of books in ecumenism Christian theology, #78 in Christian ecumenism, and #115 in faith and spirituality.. The book has been on bestseller lists many times.  Book Description:  In 1999 Steven Greenebaum felt he'd hit the wall. Fifty years old, he could not make sense of his life or the world around him. For several months he angrily demanded answers from God, if God were there. One afternoon, an inner voice told him to get a pen and paper and write. Steven then took dictation - three pages, not of commandments but guidance for leading a meaningful life.   An Afternoon's Dictation  grapples with, organizes, and deeply explores the revelations Steven received and then studied for over ten years. His sharing is NOT offered as the only possible way to understand it the dictation. It is offered, rather, as a start. The book's sections include deep explorations int...

  During Chol HaMoed , the middle days of Passover, Jewish life moves into a gentler rhythm — still sacred, but more flexible. Work that’s necessary or joyful (like cooking, travel, or creative projects) is permitted, yet the spirit of liberation remains central. Here’s what typically fills these days: Continued eating of matzah and avoiding chametz (leavened foods). Special prayers in synagogue, including Hallel (songs of praise) and readings from Exodus that recall the journey through the Red Sea. Family outings and community gatherings , often outdoors — a reminder that freedom is meant to be lived, not just remembered. Torah study and reflection , focusing on themes of renewal, gratitude, and moral freedom. In Israel, Chol HaMoed feels like a national holiday — parks, pilgrim sites, and family tables overflow with celebration. In the diaspora, it’s quieter but still luminous: a time to live the Exodus story in daily life. post inspired by Since Sinai  by Shannon...