Names mean a lot to Jews. They reflect the essence of who you are. Jews almost always are named after an ancestor in the hope they will embrace the positive values that person represented in life. Converts to Judaism select Hebrew names for similar reasons.

What many Jews don't know, is they, too can pick new names in the event of illness. Hebrew names, in most cases, do not require action in a secular court to be changed. One can change his or her Hebrew name in Jewish service.

One of the reasons for changing a Hebrew name in a time of illness is to confuse the Malach Hamavet, the angel of death. If the angel of death doesn't know your new name, the Malach Hamavet can't find you, right? Additionally, as long as nobody knows your "inner" name, they can't control you. Works for angels and mere mortals.

A vulnerable woman in today's Talmud reading (tractate Ta'anit) calls herself Ikku, meaning "if so." Her name- if so or Ikku - begs the question? Life, Rabbi Greene says, is really a story about keeping yourself open to possibilities. Ikku needs a house with a roof. People seeking spiritual first aid are looking for miracles.

Says Rabbi Greene: "When something that I perceive as bad hapens to me, I try to view the catastrophe as something positive. If so, what do I open myself up to? It's a willing decision, an acknowledgment of suspension of disbelief. People do this when they watch a play or read a fantasy novel. Why shouldn't we be open to all possibilities in our personal lives?

"When you're catapulted out of your comfort zone, adjusting to a new life situation is very difficult. We all have this idea that somehow we should get our lives in order, and everything else remains stable. You suspend disbelief an ineffective way - life changes on a dime and what we view as solid ground beneath us really isn't."

She recalls counseling a survivor of physical domestic abuse. The woman finally divorced her abuser and began a new life. "She was a song bird who had been set free. Her new Hebrew name became Ashira. 'I will sing.'"

And so? Ikku?

Were she to change her name today, Rabbi Greene says she would consider renaming herself Rebekah. Rebekah is the only person in the Bible who receives a direct answer to a question posed to God.

And so, Ikku? Ask God. Where is God? Takes a little chutzpah to use a name to remind the creator that God is in a covenant with the Jewish people.

What's in your name?

So it's not Jewish. It works for us. wikihow.com has a few thoughts on how to stay out of "hyper-sensitive" mode. Pointers to consider before you head to court, a divorce attorney, the hospital, pick your crisis! 

What happens to a Stage IV breast-cancer survivor who's beaten all of the odds? Rabbi Greene has a pretty good idea. Twice a month, she drives to M.D. Anderson for another dose of herceptin. Why? With the cancer in abeyance, Rabbi is now an official guinea pig who hopes to help other future survivors of the disease.

Her choice? Continue herceptin and see if it stops cancer cells cold or discontinue (hey, she's "cured") treatment and see what happens.

In the weeks between treatment, despite the exhaustion engendered by twice monthly poisoning-of-the-entire-body, she celebrates with Shabbat services, teaches weekly Bible study, and goes head-to-head with doctors, lawyers and others who want to understand what the Talmud really teaches.

Like most good teachers, her method combines the best of Socratic questioning and gentle patience with those of us who are novice Jews. 

This is a remarkable record even for a healthy rabbi, and those of us inclined to whining about minor health issues (yours truly) are inspired by her perseverance.

Her fundamental message to us all, is that each of us chooses how to live our life spiritually and mentally. Rabbi breathes new life into that old canard about not being able to control what happens to you -- just how you react to it.

As always in Juadism, "Here's the blessing, here's the curse -- choose life!"

Mazel Tov, Rabbi!

Inspiration takes many forms. Not being rabbinical, I'm hardly above web-surfing for my gems of wisdom, which Google considerately dishes up in the form of occasional Bible quotes, Chicken Soup stories, inspirational sagas, and ideas from random sources. Looking for enlightenment in all the wrong places, I found this lovely story in a book about Jewish spirituality (thank you Google Books!).

It's African, actually -- an ancient African legend about Yameel, the fastest and most reliable runner on the African continent. In days of yore, he could find any location; the most-remote tree in a jungle for him was as easy to find as the largest settlement.

One day, a village elder came across Yameel, standing in the middle of a road in the midst of a mission.

"Why have you stopped?" he asked Yameel.

"I have been running so fast that I have left my soul behind," Yameel answered. "I am standing here waiting for it to catch up to me."

The trick, says Rabbi Greene, is to stop and sink into your soul. It's one of those paradoxes. The slower you go, sometimes, the faster you will go. Managing the horrific details of a crisis can be overwhelming. Don't neglect the invisible, spiritual aspects of everyday crisis management.

Salon.com writer/blogger Mary Elizabeth Williams has cancer. Breast cancer. She's chronicled the horrific trials and tribulations cancer patients suffer in order to heal. On Dec. 18, she wrote of the "post-surgery secret your doctors won't share."

The trauma? This time, it's mental. The Center for Integrative Medicine says surgery's potential for trauma equals that of assault, accidents and combat. 

Sometimes just praying to make it through isn't enough. That bargain with G-d, "please, just let me live!" doesn't account for the aftermath of surgery, which frequently leaves patients feeling violated and vulnerable. Loss of faith is not uncommon after severe medical trauma.

MD Anderson Cancer Center, where Rabbi Greene is treated for Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer, routinely refers its patients to staff psychiatrists. Surviving an illness physically is demanding enough. Trying to win the war against cancer while overlooking the psychological ramifications of devastating illness is a losing strategy.

Many of us (myself included) bless the much-maligned pharmaceutical companies which manufacture anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, and anti-psychotic medications. A little boost for that "seriously positive attitude" most try to maintain in the weeks following any trauma.

Drugs help, but the talking cure works. If you're in Houston and need someone who really understands what you're going through, we also recommend Dr. David S. Wachtel (psychologist). Like Dr. Penny Hooks (see blog item below!) he specializes in medically induced trauma. 

In Judaism, rabbis sometimes suggest that instead of praying "to live" we not overlook a prayer for surgeon's healing hands.

Don't overlook the helping hands of doctors who cure by talk.

One of the many healers who works with Spiritual First Aid.org's readers is Dr. Penelope Hooks, a psychiatrist. She was one of two psychiatrists in attendance at today's Talmud -- and one of the two physicians who attended to the stricken attendee.

To learn more about Dr. Hooks, please visit http://pjhooksmd.com/ And yes, she is as kind, patient and expert in her field as the video implies.

I wasn't there, but a member of Rabbi's Havurah reports on today's scare at weekly Talmud class: 

"Life really does hang by a thread. This morning during Talmud study, one of our dear members stopped breathing. We really thought that we had lost him. Thank G-d he wasn’t at the wheel when this happened. And it helped that we have two MD’s in our group. He’s in the hospital, seems a lot better and they’re running tests."

Houston native Noah Jacobson, raised at Young Israel of Houston, now studies at Yeshiva University where's he's joined the Maccabeats, an Orthodox Jewish a capella group. This holiday season the group's borrowed a hit from Matisyahu - "Miracle."

The lyrics are especially poignant for visitors to this site – including me, survivor of a brain tumor – "Do you believe in miracles?/Am I hearing you? Am I seeing you?/Eight nights, eight lights and these rites keep me right/Bless me to the highest heights with your miracle."

BTW Jacobson says last year's Hanukkah hit, "Dynamite," boasted four million YouTube views a month in 2010.

Enjoy a special Hannukah song from "young, hip Jews!" And be sure to read the article in today's Houston Chronicle. It's by reporter Kate Shelnutt, who featured our Rabbi, Marcy Greene, in an article also posted to this site.

The L'Chaim Center is thrilled to reveal that leading Houston-based photographer, accomplished musician and educator Janice Rubin will co-lead Thanksgiving Healing Service 6:30 p.m. Friday night at Bayou Manor.

Rubin is instrumental in creating innovative musical and family religious services at several congregations and is a 2008 graduate of the Davvening Leadership Training Institute. Known for her spirited concerts and engaging liturgical settings, Rubin has received worldwide critical acclaims for works like "Feels Like Family."

Daniel Greene may not offer spiritual succor to his mother's ministry, but his music certainly brightens the lives of the 20-something crowd. VerseCity, his band, is featured on the front page of today's Houston Chronicle! They're #1 in Indonesia at the moment. Read more and listen to a song or two.

The 27^th Annual Houston Interfaith Thanksgiving Service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17  at the Rothko Chapel, 1409 Sul Ross at Yupon Street. Nine faith traditions will offer prayers and reflections on the theme, “The Challenge of Religion and Science”. L'Chaim Center Rabbis Marcy Greene and Michael Rascoe will represent the Jewish faith. Reception to follow.

Please join Rabbi Greene for a free, ecumenical Thanksgiving Healing Service  6:30 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 18 at Bayou Manor, 4141 S. Braeswood. The uplifting service is for anyone in need of healing as well as family and friends. Rabbi Greene is a Stage IV breast cancer survivor who's walking the talk she's offering.

Download brochure (PDF)

Just back from a presentation by author Amy Ephron, whose recent book, Loose Diamonds...and other things I've lost (and found) along the way, was featured at this year's Jewish Community Festival Book Fair. Spiritualfirstaid.org sponsored a table outside the auditorium where Ephron spoke.

What she talked about was the importance and value of saying "next." When you're going through life transitions, you have to be open to asking, "what's next?" Ephron says it's not true you can't get married after 42 and you can't find a job after 60.

No matter what the transition, teach yourself how to say, "Next!" This dovetails with The L'Chaim Center's mission to find the blessing in the midst of adversity.

You'll love our Talmud! I'm Stephanie Johnson, Rabbi Marcy's "PR" person. Many of you stopped by our booth at the JCC last Sunday to tell us our watermelon slices were one of the best things about the Kosher Chili Cook-Off! And yes, the watermelon was Kosher, sliced by a conservative rabbi.

Rabbi Marcy's pretty good at Talmud, too. Her refreshing, informal sessions begin at 11 a.m. Sundays at Seven Acres, 6200 N. Braeswood. Sessions are free and open to the public. Please plan to attend as she explains "what the ancient Rabbis are really telling us" through the Mishnah!