Jewess Press

She doesn't just walk; she practically glides along, with a light-hearted bounce. Her laughter is infectious, her giggle ever-present, even during the dull periods of the day. Every moment is an opportunity, a learning experience. Her world is a wonder to discover and she feels proud of even her smallest achievements.

Dear Sisters, As the holiday of Passover approaches, many of us are busy planning for the holiday. Many of us will be hosting large Seders, with our own families, our extended families, friends and acquaintances. For me, I eagerly count down the days, waiting for my married daughter and her wonderful husband to come and spend this joyous time with us. I am honored, too, that my parents will be joining our Seders, providing memories that I know my children will cherish for a lifetime.

One very cold, very dark evening in the middle of a particularly brutal Canadian winter, four cars were parked outside a home on a deserted side street of our Thornhill neighborhood.

Margalit Mogilevsky and I share a carpool to bring our daughters to school every morning. We speak occasionally about technical arrangements, usually light and insignificant talk about accommodating slight changes in our schedule.

War. Guns. Bullets. Combat Officers. Tanks. Paratroopers. Unfortunately, we've all become far too familiar with these terms.

One month ago, humanity woke up to a very dark world.

One month ago, humanity woke up to a very dark world.

Once upon a time, there was a little flame that glowed brightly. Wherever this little flame went, it brought light and luminosity.

Once upon a time, there was a little flame that glowed brightly. Wherever this little flame went, it brought light and luminosity.

A few years ago, we were headed back home from a family vacation in the Laurentian Mountains.

A few years ago, we were headed back home from a family vacation in the Laurentian Mountains.

The black fly was steadily crawling up and down my kitchen window screen. It was desperately − but methodically − seeking an escape, to get beyond the imprisoning panel of the screen, into the wide, open world.

The black fly was steadily crawling up and down my kitchen window screen. It was desperately − but methodically − seeking an escape, to get beyond the imprisoning panel of the screen, into the wide, open world.

Is there ever a time to say, "Enough! No more Mr. Nice guy for me!"

Is there ever a time to say, "Enough! No more Mr. Nice guy for me!"

You and your spouse are driving along the highway. You begin to strongly suspect that you have missed your exit.

You and your spouse are driving along the highway. You begin to strongly suspect that you have missed your exit.

Dedicated to my three teenagers

I recently attended a very interesting lecture at Netanya's Laniado Hospital. The venue for the lecture may give you an erroneous impression: it had nothing to do with disease; on the contrary, it had much to do with the delights of good health.

This past week my youngest child turned four.

If you were to stare evil in the eye, what would you see? What would be its character traits? What would form its origins?

Not only was I raised in a "religious" home, but with my father serving for the last 50 years as the rabbi of our − at first fledging, and now, vibrant − Toronto community, I was given the endearing designation of being "the rabbi's daughter."

A parent turns to her teenaged son and asks, "What's bothering you?" "Whatever," answers the kid with a disconsolate shrug.

It happens at every chuppah. After the bride's encircling of the groom seven times, after the recital of the special blessings, after the ring has been placed on her finger, there are a few seconds of collective silence in anticipation.

One of my favorite teachings from the Talmud is a marriage-related lesson.

"I have always had so many dreams. So many hopes and aspirations..."

My day begins as a perfectly sunny, breezy, late summer morning. But then we meet.

For the past two years, any time we've met our neighbors on our front lawn, near the street's curb, the discussion has invariably turned to the very pressing issue of... garbage.

I'm often asked why it is that men played such a major role in Jewish history.

"Wouldn't it be nice if the days were long all year round?" commented my son at six o'clock in the evening as we sat down to dinner to the backdrop of the completely black outdoors.