Happily Ever After?
I apologize for posting this ironic New-Yorker cartoon on the most romantic day of the Jewish year, Tu b’Av, but it reminded me of something important thing I heard a few years ago which completely switched how I think about marrying off children. My friend asked an older mom how you know a child is […]
Read MoreThe 5 by 5 Rule
A good reminder especially on these long August days with the house full of kids.
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Why the Convert Chose Judaism by Reb. Raquel Kirzenbaum
When this convert learned the halacha related to putting on shoes, he knew he wanted Judaism in his life.
Read More“In 4 Minutes We Will Drop a Warning Bomb”: A Remarkable Conversation between Israeli Forces and a Gaza Resident before Attack (Ynet)
[I was so deeply moved by this year’s Tisha b’Av movie by Rabbi Yoel Gold (at http://hashkifa.com) telling the stories of Jews who, through their undying commitment to Jewish values and ethics, uplift all of human society. That is exactly what I thought of when I read this article about how the IDF is going […]
Read MoreTisha b’Av Under Fire
I wasn’t really in the 9-days mode these 9 days. I was more in summer-vacation, when can-I-take-the-kids-swimming-again mode. And then on Friday morning my 20-year-old daughter got an urgent call to get to her Air-Force base ASAP. So I quickly gathered up all the food in our kitchen that could pass for Shabbat food, called […]
Read More*Important re This Shabbat!”
*This Shabbos, Shabbos Chazon (the Shabbos before Tisha b’Av), is the holiest of holy Shabbosim of the year. Again, I repeat — the GREATEST — of the YEAR!* It is greater than Shabbos Shuva. Greater than Shabbos haGadol. Greater than Shabbos that falls on Rosh Hashana. The Chozeh of Lublin says that Shabbos Chazon from […]
Read MoreZion Performed by Yonina
A song about yearning to yearn for Zion, for Jerusalem and the Temple and closeness with Hashem. A song to carry us into Tisha b’Av.
Read MoreWhat Every Mother Needs to Know about This Year’s Delayed Tisha B’Av Fast by Rabbi Da’vid Sperling
This year the fast of Tisha BaÁv falls out on Shabbat, and is postponed until Sunday. So here are a few laws – especially for mothers. WHO NEEDS TO FAST THIS YEAR Because this year, the fast is pushed off, we are more lenient than in most years about who is allowed to eat on […]
Read MoreThe Crying Mom I Saw Yesterday
Yesterday afternoon I was walking my boys home from camp when I noticed a neighbor sitting on the edge of the path, watching her toddler, looking really down. It looked like she had even been crying. I said, “Shalom, Tali*, how are you?” And in response she just whispered “Baruch Hashem” and twisted her face […]
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