How NOT to Give Chizuk
One day this week, at the end of a long day, I went to the gym to exercise and listen to some inspirational videos and a favorite audiobook and generally enjoy myself. And I was, until I ran into Leah*. An acquaintance I see sometimes around the gym.“Hi, how are you?” she asked, “please remind […]
Read MoreMy Blessing for My Son, the Child of a Convert and a Baalat Teshuva
[Our 11-year-old Yaakov is going into junior-high school next year, and his rabbi asked for us parents to write blessings for our sons in preparation for this momentous transition. Here’s the blessing I wrote for Yaakov):To our dearest Yaakov,In the “Al HaTsadikim” prayer, all kinds of people are mentioned who are an inspiration, who are […]
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My Daughter, the Soldier–No Longer
Next week my 21-year-old daughter, Maayan, will be discharged from the Israeli Air Force upon completing her 2 years of military service. In honor of this momentous milestone, this morning Josh and I and some of our kids attended Maayan’s going-away party at her base along with around 30 of her friends, coworkers and commanders. […]
Read MoreMy Me vs. Them Shabbat
All my kids were home this week for Shabbat lunch. We don’t all get together so often, and I had been looking forward to a nice chance for everyone to reconnect. But soon after the meal started, the conversation turned into an stormy debate over Judicial Reform. We Weisbergs are a colorful, diverse bunch, and […]
Read MoreThe Pained Father at the Soccer Semifinals
Last week I took my 8-year-old, Yoni, to the Jerusalem Soccer Championship. He was able to participate in the all-Jerusalem championship after winning second place for his age group at our neighborhood soccer championship (full disclosure: he came in 2nd place out of 2 competitors:) On the day of the Jerusalem championship, the younger kids, […]
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