Here’s Why I Said “No”
Yesterday, my 5th grader, Yoel, came home with a form in hand from school. His teacher, it turned out, was in search of families able to host groups of 5 boys for a special activity that would take place in different families’ homes on a few mornings next month. There were two options on the […]
Read MoreMeet the Razel Sister (3-Minute Music Video)
I’ve known Ricka Razel-Van Leeuwen for around 20 years now–we both raised our 8 children together in the alleyways of Nachlaot. Long-time JewishMOM.com readers might remember that 10 years ago Ricka even starred in 2 of my Real Jewish Mom videos (scroll down to watch). Over the last couple of years, Ricka has joined her […]
Read MoreMrs. Lemon Face
Yesterday morning, I had an appointment at 8 AM, which meant that instead of sitting down for a solid breakfast, I threw 2 cookies in a bag for each boy before rushing out the door. While heading out, 3-year-old Yoni ran back to the living room to grab a book to share with the boys […]
Read MoreMy Broken Dishwasher
I woke up a few days ago, and my dishwasher was dead. So this morning the dishwasher repairman finally came. He pulled the dishwasher out, tilted it up, and thwacked the bottom hard with the palm of his hand 5 times. Then he pushed the button, and, voila, the dishwasher broken beyond repair was working […]
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Tolstoy on the Jews
Tolstoy wrote: I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations … They are the most glorious nation […]
Read More“I’m Returning to You” by Agam Buchboot (3-Minute Music Video)
Over the last few years, 14-year-old Agam Buchboot has become one of Israel’s most popular singers. Her most recent hit is a love song to Hashem. My favorite line? “Thank you that sometimes it’s hard for me, because only after the darkness light comes to life.” אתה, אתה בשמחה אתה בלילות שלי, אני לא לבד […]
Read MoreWho is the Bad Mother?
Yesterday I posted “‘How I Coped’ by A Mother of 13” and one Facebook reader commented that mothers of large families are bad mothers of bad children. Which got me thinking about which mothers are bad mothers. 1st time mothers? 5th-time mothers? 13th-time mothers? Working mothers? Stay-at-home mothers? Poor mothers? Wealthy mothers? Single mothers? Mothers […]
Read More“How I Coped” by a Mother of 13
This week Family First Magazine features an article about Baltimore mother-of-13 and nurse Esther Tendler, who passed away last month. The following was an essay written by Mrs. Tendler for Ner Israel’s Sisterhood Journal. When I read it, I felt 500 pounds fall off my shoulders… When I was the mother of two small children […]
Read MoreSholom Rubashkin is Free (6-Minute Mommy Peptalk)
Sholom Rubashkin’s release from prison teaches us to never give up hope.
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