The Student my Husband Didn’t Want to Meet

Last Friday my husband, Joshua, returned from a 2- week trip to North America where he taught at several synagogues and visited family. Over Shabbat Josh told me the following remarkable story: “A friend of mine who is also a teacher sent me a message when I first arrived in the US asking if I […]
Read MoreAn Eye-Opening Photo of Myself from 15 Years Ago

Every morning, Google Photos picks out random family photos for me. I can see my daughter, the soldier, wearing a crown of flowers at her 6th birthday party in Gan Chana. I can see my oldest, today busy interviewing for graduate school, at the age of 8 being carried around like a queen on top […]
Read MoreA Surprising Question from our Chinese Guest

Last night we hosted a wonderful group of 28 Chinese tourists. We are learning that Chinese people ask very different questions than our guests from Western countries. Last night, for example, one guest stood up and asked, “In this country, is your family considered rich, poor, or middle class?” As though this is a question […]
Read MoreAn Act of Kindness in Beersheva

Today my 18-year-old daughter Moriya travelled to Beersheva for her weekly drama class. And after the class Moriya went to donate blood. And after that Moriya realized that she hadn’t eaten since the morning. And she was super hungry and was starting to feel dizzy. So Moriya entered the nearest supermarket to buy something to […]
Read MoreA Murder in Baltimore, a Murder in Rechovot

Crystal and Debbie have been cleaning my father’s home every week for the past 25 years. When the cleaning company they worked for announced it was closing around 5 years ago, Debbie (she later told me) said to Crystal, “Listen, we have so many old people depending on us to clean their homes. Like Mr. […]
Read MoreLag Sameach!

I’m flying in a few hours to visit my father in Baltimore. A plane is a strange place to be spending Lag BaOmer night, so high up in the sky that I won’t even be able to smell the smoke that will be filling much Israel. But I’ve got some downloaded Lag BaOmer classes, and […]
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