On Our Own/Cheryl Kupfer

Jews the world over just celebrated our receipt of the Torah and our unconditional acceptance of its precepts.

How efficient to kill two birds with one stone – or booking. Actually three birds, since I invited a man I had commiserated with while waiting my turn to join me.

A recent article that appeared on the haredi website, yeshivaworld.com, described how askanim in Israel had approached HaRav Aryeh Yehuda Leib Shteinman, shlita, armed with a kol korei against vacations during bein hazmanim. Their goal was to get his haskamah in their mission to stop bachurim from doing what they felt was an inappropriate and wasteful use of time - hiking, swimming, nature walking, sightseeing, etc. (generally vacationing from their studies).

The Haggadah brings to our attention the "Four Sons," each of whom has a distinct nature that essentially represents the main types of Jews who cross our path. The one we most admire is the "wise" son. He is the kind of young man every parent, prospective in-law and teacher dreams of having come into their life. He is intelligent, sincere and inquisitive and has a thirst for knowledge. He knows where he comes from and embraces his Yiddishkeit.

Whether there is a medical issue, a mental health illness or an addiction, it must be confronted. The first step to "fixing what is broke” is facing reality and admitting that something is broke.

There is a wise Yiddish saying that translates into this observation: "Yichus (illustrious ancestors) is like potatoes - they are both under the ground."

In the book of Ruth, we learn that Boaz married his late kinsman's childless widow. King David was a descendant of this union – and Moshiach.

Years ago, when I was in college, I took an undergraduate course in law. I don't remember much of what I learned, but the concept of criminal negligence has stuck in my mind.

A recent article in The Jewish Press (Purim And The Tyranny of Beauty, Family Issues, March 16, 2012) written by writer and author Yitta Halberstam Mandelbaum generated, and continues to generate, quite a buzz.