How to Fix a Shattered Glass
On Shabbat Shuvah, a group of neighborhood mothers and their daughters had the honor of hearing a class given by Rabbanit Yael Eliyahu. And she shared an image that I can’t stop thinking about: “Imagine that you dropped a glass, and it shattered into a thousand pieces. You could use an entire bottle of glue, […]
Read MoreMy Teshuva Allergy
I’m personally somewhat allergic to doing teshuva. I don’t like thinking about stuff I do wrong, or how I’m bad. But teshuva is what we’re supposed to be doing right now during these 10 Days of Teshuva. So I tend to do it half-heartedly, with lots of rationalizations echoing in the background. For example:1. Admit […]
Read MoreThe 2 Priests Who Came for Rosh Hashana
On Rosh Hashanah, we hosted two men who are studying to become Roman Catholic priests. They were lovely guys, one from Connecticut, one from India, who were very curious to learn more about Judaism and Rosh Hashana (our Indian guest, like my husband, seemed to particularly enjoy the tradition of eating a fish head). During […]
Read MoreThe Pregnancy of the World
From the bottom of my heart, I bless you JewishMOM, with a sweet year! May Hashem bless you with an abundance of health, nachas and marital harmony! Emotional, spiritual, physical and financial wellbeing and an abundance of surprising and wonderful good news!
Read MoreI Really Didn’t Want to Make My Rosh Hashana Shopping List
In last week’s Mishpacha, instead of the regular Kichel cartoon, there was a quiz instead titled: “Tell us How You Prep: We’ll Tell You Your Type” (see below). Anyway, I discovered I’m a D through and through. I prepare simple food, no fuss, during the 24 hours before Rosh Hashana. But even us skip-the-recipe-section Ds […]
Read MoreThe 2 Obnoxious Women at the Elul Conference
Yesterday I attended a huge Pre-Rosh Hashana event sponsored by a magazine for religious women. It was incredible! Over 3000 women in the audience from all over Israel, Rabbanit Yemima! Rav Shmuel Eliyahu! Top Israeli singer Yuval Dayan! So, it’s admittedly weird that instead of the powerhouse program, what remains most prominent in my mind […]
Read MoreIf I Could Be Anybody at All, Who Would I Be?
We Rabbi Nivinites/Nivin-ettes are scrambling around at this very moment finishing up our Elul plans, our list of goals for the almost-here, new Jewish year. Rough drafts are supposed to be ready by tomorrow, Tuesday, the 25th of Elul, the anniversary of the Creation of the World. I’ve made a lot of progress, but I’ve […]
Read MoreThe Soul You Placed Within Me
I just started reading the exquisite newly-released book “The Soul that You Placed Within Me: Faith-Filled Reflections on Desire, Birth, and Motherhood” (HEBREW)by Midreshet HaRova director Rabbanit Dana Slae. You will definitely be hearing more about this book on JewishMOM.com! Here’s a little but yummy taste:)
Read More2 Easy Ways I Get My Kids to Help in the House
Last Elul, among my goals for the coming year, I wrote: “My kids will learn to clean up after themselves, and housework will be under control, and even enjoyable!” But alas, JewishMOMs plan and their children laugh. And then a few weeks ago my dear cleaning lady of 4 years had to leave the country. […]
Read MoreWhat We Can Learn from the Wives of Alcoholics
A few days ago I found out that a woman I know from around the neighborhood is a social worker who, among other things, runs a support group for women with alcoholic husbands. “Is it a support group especially for religious women?” She smiled and shook her head. “No, we have all kinds of women […]
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