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JA N UA RY 2 022 | T H E H E A LT H + W E LLN E S S I S S U E

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

A Healthy and Prosperous 2022

January 2022 PUBLISHER

Kali McNutt | kali.mcnutt@citylifestyle.com EDITOR

Denise K. James | denise.james@citylifestyle.com

Planning a magazine is an oddly futuristic task. I’m sitting here, still stuffed from Thanksgiving, writing a "NEW YEAR, NEW YOU" message for you, dear reader. Yet I have no idea what resolution(s), if any, I will have made by the time this hits your mailbox. Like media the world over, yes, our January issue is all about health and wellness. But rather than bombarding you with another new diet or pictorials of the perfect squat, we decided to focus on holistic wellness: whole person health. Spiritual, emotional, social, financial, intellectual and occupational health—all of these make up a balanced life. As someone who struggles with the ideas of balance and moderation (boring!), I have found that little tweaks and upgrades in one area of life can absolutely spur progress across the spectrum. From acupuncture (love it!) to cryotherapy (on my list of things to try) to seeing a physical therapist for a tune-up to reading a book on a new-toyou topic—tending to one area of our lives can ripple across to others. As we begin this new year, we at Birmingham Lifestyle also celebrate one year in print. As the only monthly magazine for our local market, we see our platform as one of social connection and community wellness. By bringing people together for monthly events, promoting the small businesses that make our city vibrant and telling the stories of the families, individuals, leaders and thinkers in our neighborhoods, we strive to CONNECT—in a world that can be isolating and disconnected at times. Whatever aspect of your life you resolve to enhance this year, we hope this issue inspires you to try something new and different in the pursuit of your holistic wellbeing. Cheers to 2022,

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Birmingham Lifestyle™ Birmingham is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Birmingham area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Birmingham Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources

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inside the issue The Health & Wellness Issue

F E ATU R E D D E PA RTM E NTS

10 Cheers to a New Year!

Lifestyle Letter

Local Experiences

F E ATU R E D

Trend Setter

22 Another Avenue to Healing

Financial Buzz

Local Limelight

F E ATU R E D

28 Culinary Creations

32 Food for Thought and Food

32 Inspired By

Enjoy a Spirit-Free Cocktail With Ingredients from LeNell’s Beverage Boutique

How Ketamine Therapy is Offering New Hope

FO O D + B EV ER AGE FI NA NC E + LEGA L SE RV IC E S B EAU T Y FO O D + B EV E R AG E

A RTS + C U LT U R E

for the Soul

Book Suggestions for an Inspiring New Year

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Sam Evans, Rhythm Creative

2 0 5 . 5 2 7. 4 2 5 1

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J A N UA RY 2 0 2 2

local experiences Locals recommending the best places and things to do in the city.

With the start of a new year, the focus on taking care of our health and wellness is a priority for many and is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. Whether you are looking for some time to relax, unwind and feel rejuvenated with a trip to the spa or you are seeking out treatments to improve health and vitality, we have you covered with some of the best resources in town.

Health Treatments OXMOOR CHIR OPR ACTIC, DR . TAYLOR FLANNAGAN: Keep your body func-

tioning at the highest level with periodic chiropractic adjustments. As an added bonus, Dr. Flannagan will keep you ultra-relaxed with good humor! 1021 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL ANTHOS ACUPUNCTUR E & HER BAL CLINIC: Restore balance with traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is effective for a variety of issues, from fertility to chronic pain to insomnia. 2117 16th Ave. S, Birmingham, AL SPIR O SALT R OOM: Halotherapy is a unique and all-natural therapy that uses salt particles to improve breathing ailments or skin conditions and promote total relaxation. 2816 Culver Rd. Mountain Brook, AL R ESTOR E HYPER WELLNESS: Newly-opened Restore Hyper Wellness offers whole-body cryotherapy, infrared sauna, compression and red light therapy. 2800 Cahaba Village Pl. Suite 210 Mountain Brook, AL NAOS PHYSICAL THER APY: Think of physical therapy like going to the dentist — don't wait until something goes wrong to get a tune-up. NAOS prioritizes personalized patient care for both general and specialized physical therapy needs. 100 Old Town Rd. Vestavia Hills, AL

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F A M I LY L AW • E S TAT E P L A N N I N G A P P E A L S • M E DI AT ION 2 0 5 - 8 74 - 8 6 8 0 | W W W. C RI T T E NDE NPA RT NE R S . C O M 1 INDEPENDENCE DR, STE 305, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209 4000 EAGLE POINT CORPORATE DR, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35242 no representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

C H E E R S TO A NEW YEAR!

ENJOY A SPIRIT-FREE COCKTAIL WITH INGREDIENTS FROM LENELL’S BEVERAGE BOUTIQUE ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM EVANS, RHYTHM CREATIVE Located in the Norwood neighborhood of Birmingham since 2018, LeNell’s Beverage Boutique offers both the novice drinker and aficionado an eclectic selection of everything needed to create a spirited — or spirit-free — cocktail worthy of celebration. Owner LeNell Camacho Santa Ana opened the first iteration of her boutique in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood in 2003, enjoying success until 2009 when she closed the shop and relocated to Mexico for two years. Now, she’s back home in Alabama, and business is once again booming. “I specialize in out-of-the-ordinary, organic, small craft, women-owned and BIPOC-owned,” she remarked.

T R E N D SE T T E R | FOOD + BE VE RAGE

“And that’s all I’ve ever done. My shop has been a boutique from the beginning — the first boutique liquor store in the country.” Visit LeNell's, and you’ll find so much to choose from, you can expect to be there quite a while, taking in the ambience – including a clawfoot bathtub cleverly filled with gin, ornate shelving and a sparkling chandelier made of crystal— and chatting with helpful staff or LeNell herself. The 500-square-foot shop is a constant flurry of activity, including regulars perusing artistic displays, weekly tastings, excited newcomers and curious neighbors. LeNell, by the way, said she picked the Norwood neighborhood as her location for the same reasons she chose Red Hook in Brooklyn. “I had incredible neighborhood support; people appreciated that I invested where I did,” she said. “I chose Norwood for the same reasons: the tight-knit community, and because I believe in living where you invest.” For this issue, LeNell shares a delicious cocktail that everyone can imbibe for a new year’s toast. Made with Lyre’s London Dry Spirit, Nikolaihof Elderflower Syrup, Fre Brut Sparkling Wine and zesty lemon, this refreshing. spirit-free Floral French 75 is perfect for 2022 and offers even more reasons to visit LeNell’s, clink your glass and savor a moment of community. “We have a big American whiskey, bourbon and rye selection. We carry an eclectic spirit section from CONTINUED >

JANUARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/BI R M I N G HA M

T R E N D SE T T E R | FOOD + BE VE RAGE

Mexico since I lived there. We’re selling wines that are sustainable, and so many things are certified organic,” she said. “And nothing is in the shop without my having tasted it. If it’s here, I have given it my stamp of approval.” I am fascinated by the ritual of drinking and how we use it to connect with one another,” she added. “It feeds my soul.”

Children born into all kinds of circumstances have dreams and dreams are powerful. WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.

SPIRIT-FREE FLORAL FRENCH 75 COURTESY OF LENELL’S BEVERAGE BOUTIQUE • • • •

1.5 ounces Lyre’s London Dry Spirit ½ ounce fresh lemon juice ½ ounce Nikolaihof Elderflower Syrup 2 ounces Fre Brut Sparkling Wine

INSTRUCTIONS: Shake all ingredients, except wine, with ice in a cocktail glass. Pour sparkling wine into a shaker. Strain into a tall glass filled with cracked ice.

1 6 0 0 7 T H AV E N U E S . BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 | ChildrensAL.org

JANUARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/BI R M I N G HA M

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID SMITH

THE PATH OF ABUNDANCE ABEONA WEALTH OFFERS ADVICE FOR YOUR NEW YEAR

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | FIN ANCE + LE GAL S E RVI CE S

A “pandemic” business that opened in 2020, Abeona Wealth's mission is to offer approachable, empowering financial advice and to help individuals – particularly women, young couples and those close to retirement — invest, save and plan for the future with confidence. With a background in psychology and teaching, founder Mary Meadows Livingston was inspired to engage her analytical skills and people skills and begin a new professional journey. She’s now a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and one of a few female CFA® charterholders in the state, showing clients how financial ideology influences habits — and how to overcome former ideas about money to build lasting wealth.

WHAT DO YOU TELL CLIENTS WHO WANT TO SET NEW SAVINGS GOALS? Money decisions are a tradeoff — in the case of savings and debt, you’re weighing current spending versus paying for it down the road and sacrificing long-term goals. I start by helping clients discover their core values, and we make a decision based on the actual numbers and how the decisions align with their values. Awareness of spending and cash flow is necessary. A good savings rate is around 20%, but at least 10%. It depends on goals and situations, but I would advise 50% for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings. Remember, our brains are not wired to make good financial decisions. A new savings goal requires discipline, and setting up automatic transfers will help you be successful.

ANY TIPS FOR YOUNG ADULTS JUST STARTING OUT? Yes! Do not get financial advice from TikTok or Instagram. Content creators are doing just that – creating content – and may not be giving sound advice. You need someone who has your best interests at heart. Start saving and creating good habits now.

SHOULD WE ANTICIPATE AND PREPARE FOR NATIONAL CHANGES FOR 2022?

JANUARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/BI R M I N G HA M

MARY ME ADOWS LIVINGSTON

That’s a big question. There is potential for new tax legislation to be passed in Congress, but the substance of the proposals has changed so much this year that it is difficult to predict. Small business owners, couples making between $400,000 and $1 million annually and families needing detailed estate planning will likely be most affected. I think housing prices will remain elevated until the supply on the market catches up to the demand, but I doubt there will be a big correction or bursting bubble. I encourage those who are concerned to get in touch. I love using my analytical side to solve problems, and relationships are important to me. I put my clients’ interests first. Abeona, by the way, is the Roman goddess of the journey — that’s where the name of my firm comes from. I want to be your guide on your financial journey.

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Have a Beautiful Year NOURISH YOUR SKIN ORGANICALLY AT THE RETREAT DAY SPA

ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | BEAUTY

Perhaps you’ve made the vow to yourself that 2022 will be your year for paying better attention to what you give to your body, from sunlight and water to healthier foods and nourishing products. Shouldn’t your skincare be included? Here’s a tip from Jill Copeland-Henderson at The Retreat Day Spa, located in Cahaba Heights: consider that the standards are much higher for organic products outside of the United States. That’s why The Retreat carries Eminence, a luxurious and totally organic skincare brand developed in Hungary. In fact, they’re the first day spa in the city to do so, with good reason. A massage therapist for about 15 years before she became the owner of The Retreat, Jill understands the importance of organic skin care and uses Eminence with intention, knowing it’s a repeat award winner, including best skin care company for spa professionals 12 years in a row. It’s also used by the Spa at Ritz-Carlton and other reputable establishments. Jill and her team appreciate that Eminence puts rigorous scientific research into each item they produce and have done so since the company’s inception in 1958. Lotions, serums, and other products are created with all-natural ingredients and “herbalism” — and the absence of chemicals and harsh preservatives makes them safer.

“We are conscious of clients’ allergies. We have clients who are allergic to unusual things, and we’re aware of this and value finding products that will work for them,” Jill explained. “We pay attention to ingredient lists.” That said, each client at The Retreat enjoys a completely customized experience during their treatment, from the skin products used to the technique. “No two people who come into our spa on the same day would have the same treatment,” Jill noted. “Massages and facials should be individualized for what the person needs that day, and products should suit their skin.” For clients who fall completely in love with their treatment — which is fully expected — The Retreat carries “about 85% of the products” offered by the Eminence website in a generous retail display. And it’s a shopping experience spa-goers can feel good about; for each retail product purchased by The Retreat, Eminence will plant a tree. The company also regularly prepares healthy, organic meals for children undergoing cancer treatments and has donated to more than 100 hospitals, medical facilities and community organizations since early 2020. We don’t carry everything on the website — just what we love,” Jill said, smiling. “But we love almost everything!”

JANUARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/BI R M I N G HA M

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Another Avenue to Healing ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES ILLUSTRATIONS BY KAITLIN ROSE SLATTERY, DREAMERS SUPPLY CO.

How Ketamine Therapy is Offering New Hope

F E AT U R E | HEALTH + WELLNE S S

Patients who visit Crestline Health & Wellness are immediately enveloped into a caring, calm environment. No matter what has been troubling their mind and spirit prior to entering – perhaps crippling anxiety, severe depression or debilitating pain — a weight soon lifts at the notion of healing through the hands of the empathetic team and the miracle of ketamine therapy. Led by Dr. Amy van Elkan with the dedicated assistance of Nurse Ashley Fontaine and Patient Coordinator Hampton Adams, Crestline Health and Wellness is changing and saving the lives of those with treatment-resistant disorders. “We take care of patients who haven't found relief with traditional antidepressants or with opioids for pain,” Dr. van Elkan noted. “We don’t see first-timers. These patients all have treatment-resistant disorders. Though we don’t know what causes treatment resistance, we do know that only 30% of patients respond to traditional antidepressants, while 75% of patients respond to ketamine therapy.” Inspiration to open Crestline Health & Wellness was sparked back when Dr. van Elkan was working as an anesthesiologist at a pain specialty practice and saw firsthand the incredible relief ketamine brought to patients who suffered chronic pain. “My inner voice kept telling me there was more that I could do for my patients – with holistic and collaborative medicine,” she explained. The voice was so insistent that Dr. van Elkan left her position and forged a new path, first researching and developing protocols based on scientific literature about ketamine, then traveling to Texas and New Mexico to visit ketamine clinics since, at the time, none existed in Birmingham. Finally, Crestline Health and Wellness opened in October 2019, the first of its kind in the Magic City. But just a handful of months later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the brand-new practice scrambled to find PPE

(personal protective equipment), such as N95 masks and medical-grade sanitizer, in order to continue caring for patients. The clinic saw an uptick of new patients during this time — the isolation and uncertainty brought on by the pandemic led to increased mental health challenges, and it was then that Dr. van Elkan and her staff "fully realized the need for the clinic." Plans to expand are on the horizon. For now, three treatment rooms and the three staff members, Dr. van Elkan included, are involved with shepherding patients through the delicate process of ketamine therapy. A patient’s first appointment, usually about 2 hours long, involves a thorough discussion of experiences and medical history, as well as risks, benefits and alternatives “to develop an individualized wellness plan.” Before each infusion, patients are to abstain from food and drink for six hours and to refrain from “anything that could alter mood or consciousness,” including unprescribed drugs or violent media. Dr. van Elkan also suggests journaling prior to the appointment to “set goals and intentions for the infusion.” “Most importantly, we instruct patients to ‘let go’ during their infusions,” she said. “All of this preparation is aimed toward opening themselves to whatever is revealed during the infusion experience.” The infusion itself involves a tiny catheter inserted painlessly into a vein and a “highly calculated” syringe pump containing an amount of ketamine based on the patient’s weight, plus saline. Infusions are administered for 40 minutes, with most patients feeling differently after about seven minutes – usually “floaty and tingly” and with heightened senses of sight and hearing. “We give patients a disposable eye shield, dim the lights and encourage their favorite music to create a calming environment,” Dr. van Elkan noted. “For the safety of CONTINUED >

JANUARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/BI R M I N G HA M

our patients, we continuously monitor their heart rate, rhythm, blood pressure, and oxygen level. These infusions can be lovely and pleasant, but they can also be challenging. It takes a lot of courage on the part of our patients.” After the initial appointment, Dr. van Elkan typically sees a patient for at least six more follow-up treatments — about an hour each, without the consult — and most patients report a marked improvement by the third session, though “everyone’s response will differ.” Most of all, Dr. van Elkan and the staff at Crestline Health and Wellness treasure and honor the opportunity to serve

F E AT U R E | HEALTH + WELLNE S S

patients, many of whom feel they have nowhere else to turn. The depression rate in Alabama, according to Dr. van Elkan, is double the national average, and the rate of suicide in Alabama is higher than average as well. While using ketamine therapy for mental and physical health might be groundbreaking at the local level, it has arrived in time to address “a great need in the community.” “We cry and laugh with our patients,” Dr. van Elkan mused. “This practice is definitely involving me in my patients’ lives more than I ever thought it would. I'm grateful to not only be a part of their journey to wellness, but to also offer them hope. That alone is a very powerful tool."

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C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

Getting to Know Table and Thyme’s Thomas Cox ARTICLE BY KALI MCNUTT Birmingham native Thomas Cox grew up wanting to play and coach football. “From the time I was 5, all I ever wanted to do was coach college football. Both of my parents were in education. I went to college knowing I’d be a college football coach," he said. After playing for UAB in college from 1998-2002, Cox continued for 10 years — first in Atlanta, then Raleigh and finally at Tennessee Tech, where he coached under his former college football coach. Life was good, but Cox felt it was time for a change. “God called me in a different direction. I started working at a local church in Cookeville, Tennessee, handling events,” he said. Known for his clean, healthy eating, it wasn’t long before Cox was asked to create

a meal plan for his boss. Word spread quickly, and soon he was creating meal plans for his boss’ friends and their friends. “This was before you could get a meal plan online in 30 seconds for free,” he laughed. The entrepreneurial fire had been lit, and Mealfit was born in 2013. Three years later, he was creating meal plans for people in 26 countries. Meal plans were followed by meal prep for busy families. The orders piled up, and Cox knew it was time to take the leap into being a full-time entrepreneur and business owner. “I rented a 400-square-foot BBQ joint with no heat and no air in the middle of nowhere." he recalled. Next came a move to downtown Cookeville, where he operated a bustling lunch-only café. CONTINUED > JANUARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/BI R M I N G HA M

Four years ago, Cox came back to Birmingham to work with Highlands Bible College, where he feeds 350 college students every day. He continued to grow Mealfit around his simple philosophy of eating real, whole, one-ingredient foods. “It’s boring but it works,” he said. In working with Highlands College, Cox met Hospitality Director Alyce Head, previously a food stylist at Hoffman Media. She suggested Cox start a separate company to focus on high-end catering. Aurrie Hicks of Hopson Rae, a marketing firm, brought the brand to fruition. “She did all my messaging, branding, marketing—she is wonderful,” said Cox. Table and Thyme was launched in August 2019. You’ve no doubt seen Table and Thyme’s lavish “grazing boards,” but the company also caters about 12 weddings a year. From small company parties to large weddings that have Cox frying squash blossoms on site, there is no catering project too small or too fancy. “This is becoming a full-service hospitality company,” he noted. And while we can’t tell you exactly what’s next, think unique, artisan foods that can be shipped around the world. For Cox it all comes back to his why. “I love making people’s lives easier. I don’t want you worrying about a corporate event you’re hosting. I don’t want busy families stressed. In my heart, I like making lives easier," he said.

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

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Food for Thought and

Food for the Soul

Book Suggestions for an Inspiring New Year ARTICLE BY RE V. RICH WE BSTE R, ST. LUKE ’ S E PISCOPAL CHURCH PHOTOG R APHY BY SAM E VANS, RHY TH M CRE ATIVE

I’ll begin with a confession. Whenever I’m asked what I happen to be reading these days, the answer is usually a tall order. Because I’m an ordained minister, I’m expected to read “religious” books — and I do. It's just that my religious books are so academic (maybe nerdy is the better word), they are hardly of any use to anyone outside the guild.

I NSP IR E D BY | A RTS + CULTURE

Adding to my problem is my opinion that when it comes to many popular “religious” books, they are either repetitive or written by people who are far too nice to be interesting. And besides, it's hard to work in a church all day and then read more stuff about church. So, this little reflection on spiritual health and wellness for the new year will include thoughts on two “other” books in my library: books that weren’t written to be religious in the way often expected, but still full of courage and optimism and hope, which is the stuff of faith, after all. I’m a big fan of author Sebastian Junger, an Academy Award-winning combat reporter who wrote a small but important book called, “Freedom.” It’s a funky book; the memoir of a yearlong hike with three comrades along the railroad lines of the east coast. This is an illegal activity by the way, making it a most unusual religious book (I like interesting people, remember?), but with the sharp prose of a reporter, the author weaves together many stories that are ultimately the same story—his hike, early colonial settlement, Apache raids, resistance movements. All of these point to a lesson we learn at some point or should learn — that as much as we cherish our freedom, our autonomy and our rights, these must always be held in tension with our need for each other. In recalling a 1996 commuter train accident, in which the engineer gave his life for the passengers and crew, Junger writes:

“The temptation to ignore reality while believing in a benign benevolence that will protect you from harm has gotten a lot of people killed over the ages. What truly is benevolent, though—what will save you over and over, or often die trying—are other people.” (p.76-77) That will preach. According to the Gospel of Luke, the first story Jesus tells after his decision to travel back to Jerusalem to die is the story of the Good Samaritan, a story so often told and well-worn we are apt to forget the Samaritans were the enemy of the day. But sometimes, all of us find ourselves in the ditch to the point that anyone will do as a helping hand. I have a friend in Maine who says he doesn’t care about your politics, as long as you have pair of jumper cables and are willing to stop. So maybe this gets us to a new start in the new year — to find wellness in reconnection, to get to know our neighbors, to help someone and maybe even to apologize. It's been a cranky time, after all. This brings me to another book I love, which is actually a cookbook titled “Jerusalem,” by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. As best I can tell, the idea for the book started when Sami, a child of Palestinian East Jerusalem, and Yotam, a child of Jewish West Jerusalem, discovered how they grew up eating the same food. OK, that’s not quite true. A dizzying number of cuisines exists in Jerusalem, along with cultures and CONTINUED >

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subcultures to make one think there is no such thing as local food. I have an Israeli friend from Jerusalem who lives in a neighborhood populated by Jewish immigrants from India, so that the street smells like curry before the Sabbath meal. Still, there are common threads. Everyone, and this means everyone, uses chopped cucumber and tomato to create “Arab” salad or “Israeli” salad, depending on your point of view. Stuffed vegetables, pickles, olive oil, lemon juice and olives are everywhere. And in this intensely fought over and divided city with 4,000 years of history to boot, food — and by this I mean good, fresh, healthy food — becomes the unifier. I have my own story. Just a few months before the big lockdown of 2020, a local chef joined our church and began not only cooking for us, but changing the food culture of our congregation. Chips and cookies were now absent from the church kitchen, and if you weren’t hungry enough to eat an apple, you weren’t hungry. Seasonal vegetables and local greens appeared on the menu, and bins of fresh potatoes replaced frozen french fries. We began to take a closer look at our relationship with food and what we ate and why, admitting that something wrapped in plastic with no expiration date is really not food. As we look toward a new year, perhaps our health and our waistlines will take care of themselves if we eat the

I NSP IR E D BY | A RTS + CULTURE

food that God made in creation and not the food that we made in a factory somewhere. And who knows; food can become a catalyst for new friends and new relationships. I got to see my Israeli pal last summer; we conduct tours together, and although the country was then in COVID lockdown, he wrote a letter to the government saying I was “an essential business,” which was a polite fabrication, but it got me into the country. And one day, while traipsing around and looking for new stuff to show Americans, he took me to lunch in the Arab village of Abu Gosh. You could smell the kitchen before you saw the place, and the line was out the door. Naji’s kabob joint attracts Israeli businessmen and Arab construction workers, farmers and families, soldiers and anyone you might imagine. And over it all presides a smiling Naji, ringing up kabobs and pickles in a peaceful corner of a divided world. A reprinted report from CNN acts a welcome on the door: “The problems of the Middle East could be solved by Naji.” Is all this religious? Some thoughts might differ, but I wonder if it isn’t all the same story: that we are all children seeking a right relationship with God and with each other. This much I know — that harmony, dignity, sympathy, humility, a willingness to help or even say we are sorry will all keep us safe and well in the year ahead and beyond.

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