One Foot in the Red Sea

I recently received the Golden Heart Award, which acknowledges local unsung heroes. My friend Gary Schoenberg had nominated me for my FREE HUGS work in the world as the founder of Hugmobsters Armed with Love. Congresswoman Madeleine Dean signed the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition as did PA Representative Benjamin Sanchez for Legislative Recognition. I was delighted to be in good company with other healers and peacemakers. This is what Chat GPT had to say about the award.

The Golden Heart Award, established by Dr. Jana Mallis, recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions to the community. This award is part of the Golden Heart Group, which was founded in 1993 as an interfaith meditation group and later expanded into community service initiatives. The first Golden Heart Awards Banquet took place in 1995, celebrating “unsung heroes” who make significant impacts in their communities.

Recent Highlights

2026 Award: Edie Weinstein was recently honored with the Golden Heart Award for 2026, acknowledging her contributions and community service.
Recognition: The awards often include special recognitions from local officials, enhancing the honor’s prestige.

Purpose of the Award

Community Impact: The award aims to highlight and celebrate those who work selflessly for the betterment of others, fostering a spirit of service and compassion.

Cool beans, huh?

I was notified a few months ago that I was nominated and that the luncheon would be on August 15th. As the universe would have it, shortly before that, I was in the hospital recovering from pneumonia in the midst of COPD and CHF, and I prayed that I would be released and stable enough to be there. I put aside everything else and napped up in preparation those few days between discharge and the event itself.

One of the highlights for me was the invocation by Rabbi Seth Frisch whose local synagogue is Congregation Tiffereth Beth Israel. He spoke of the portion of Exodus in which the escaped enslaved children of Israel were facing the Red Sea. Remember the scene from the Ten Commandments in which Moses holds up his staff and the water dramatically parts, they stream through and when the Egyptian army follow, the water crashes around them. What Rabbi Frisch said, was something I had heard before. It took the faith of one person to take the first step into the water and then the sea parted. It wasn’t the might of God that initiated, it was the willingness of that one soul to overcome fear and do this seemingly impossible thing. He compared that to what each of us is called on to do each day, to see the potential perils we face and take that step. Put that big toe in the water and trust. When I started doing the Hugmobsters thing, I had to trust that more people than not, thought it would be fun. I have had people ask me if I am afraid of rejection if people say no. I tell them that it’s not about me, this offer of a hug. It is not a requirement that people hug me. It is not even an expectation. It is an invitation. Do you accept every invitation offered to you? I have had people initially say no and then when I tell them the origin story, they willingly hug. How amazing is that? I have done FREE HUGS in suburban neighborhoods and a veterans’ homeless shelter in Kensington which is known as a drug infested part of Philadelphia. When I was there, a man I embraced sighed and said, “I haven’t been touched in 20 years.” Can you imagine two decades without positive, loving human contact?

In addition, I am part of a group that offers FREE MOM HUGS, in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

Years later, I have people meet up with me on the street, in supermarkets, in restaurants and say, “I know you, you’re the hug lady.” A title I proudly wear. I have also been called the Mutha Hugga. Gangsta without the violent implications.

Are there areas in your life in which you want to be audacious and take that leap of faith? Maybe it involves a career change. Maybe it involves a potential relationship or leaving one that is not healthy for you. Perhaps it is a major lifestyle change as I have been called on to make. How about moving to a new home or town or even country? What courage might you need to muster to do the thing that scares you the most, knowing that you will be safely caught and held?

I dare you to join me as you welcome what awaits you on the other side.