Tznius (Modesty) – Part I

Posted on: April 17th, 2009

Problems Faced Due to Compromised Tznius

Pesach In Poland

Posted on: April 17th, 2009

Every year, Pesach is one of the most celebrated holidays throughout the world - and Pesach in Poland is no exception. This year there were numerous private and public sederim around the country.

The Guilt That Comes With Freedom

Posted on: April 7th, 2009

I spoke with a group of former well spouses. They began the support group as caregivers and helped each other navigate the difficult practical and emotional minefields through which they all traveled. As the years passed, many were widowed but stayed on in the original support group to help others. Over time, as more of them lost their spouses to chronic illness, they began to realize that they were now all coping with a different set of emotions.

How Community Expectations Influence Your Reality

Posted on: April 1st, 2009

Doubt is a very powerful force. It slowly erodes what we know to be true. It can undermine our self-confidence and even change our reality. Doubt comes from many sources and very often in the form of innocuous comments from friends and family.

Naphtali and Josephine Phillips

Posted on: April 1st, 2009

Naphtali Phillips, the ninth child of Rebecca Machado and Jonas Phillips, was born in New York on October 19, 1773. His great-grandfather was Dr. Samuel Nunes Ribeiro, an escapee from the Portuguese Inquisition1 who became one of the first Jewish settlers of Savannah, GA.2 His maternal grandparents were Zipporah Nunes and David Mendes Machado.3 David Machado also escaped from the Inquisition in Portugal and served for a number of years as the chazzan and Torah teacher of Congregation Shearith Israel in New York.

Po-Lin

Posted on: April 1st, 2009

Purim in Tarnow        On March 9, 2009, the first Purim celebrations in many years took place in Tarnow. The program included the reading of Megillat Esther and tasting traditional Jewish dishes. The event was organized by The Michael H. Traison Fund for Poland; the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland; […]

Becoming A Successful Job Interviewee

Posted on: March 26th, 2009

Before you begin preparing for an interview - a word of caution. If you went through this process easily in the past, don't expect a repeat performance. Moreover, if you're still following the advice of gurus like John Crystal and Jeff Allen; don't. Their advice is obsolete. In 2009 there is a new reality, and unless you are mentally and emotionally prepared for it, you're in for a rude awakening.

Shidduchim And The Former Well Spouse

Posted on: March 25th, 2009

When one loses a spouse, it sometimes does not take very long for people to play matchmaker. "Only a stone should be alone." Is a phrase often bandied about as widowed well spouses are encouraged to start dating again. Many in this situation relish their time to themselves, which has been an elusive dream for so long and are not ready to start the process. Some however, would like to remarry, and helpful friends begin to look for a shidduch for them.

March 16 – 66th Anniversary Of Krakow Ghetto Liquidation

Posted on: March 25th, 2009

A few-hundred Kracovians and guests from abroad, including Israel, participated in the annual March of Remembrance. Ghetto survivors, representatives of local authorities, diplomats (including Ann Hall, U.S. Consul General in Krakow and David Peleg, Israeli Ambassador in Poland) and many "ordinary people" came to commemorate those who were killed in the ghetto during WW II. We walked from the former Umschlagplatz in Podgorze to the site of former KL Plaszow.

Modern Day Heroes (Part II)

Posted on: March 18th, 2009

Years ago, when I was starting out in my chosen profession most people were able to keep the job they had trained for their whole lives. By the year 2000, the picture had changed and it was predicted that people just starting in the work force would change professions at least six times before they retired. They would not just change jobs, but they would have to completely learn something different from their original dream.

Warning: Arrogance May Be Bad For Your Health

Posted on: March 18th, 2009

I know Purim is over, but Megillat Esther is so rich with lessons on how people should live their lives - along with the consequences of not doing so - that I wish to share one of the many wisdoms that I have gleaned from reading it. I believe that the world wouldn't be in the mess it is in - economically, socially and spiritually - if people would only open their eyes to the megillah's masterful insights on how to behave.

Purim In Poland

Posted on: March 18th, 2009

Purim, one of the most beloved Jewish holidays across the world, is also very popular in Poland. There were Purim celebrations in all the major cities including Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz, Wroclaw and many others. Wherever possible people read the Megillah, gave tzedakah and shared meals.

The Pros & Cons of Job/resume Posting Boards

Posted on: March 16th, 2009

If you are old enough, you may remember how your job search was predicated on getting a head start on the Sunday editions of the New York Times and the New York Daily News and making a list of all the places you would call and all the resumes you would mail out on Monday morning.

Where The Job Listings Are

Posted on: March 11th, 2009

Advanced technology allows information to flow instantly 24/7/365, which is why job boards have become larger and more sophisticated. But before you boot up your computer, you need to know which boards to use.

Modern Day Heroes (Part I)

Posted on: March 11th, 2009

We live in very scary economic times. Many people have lost their jobs and are having difficulty finding other ones. This is causing families to lose their homes, unless they can find new means of making money in order to pay their mortgages. Retooling and leaving professions or jobs is difficult for everyone. Well spouses and the working chronically ill have less flexibility than most, as they are limited by their illness or the care-giving responsibilities.

Traces Of Jewish Culture Photo Contest

Posted on: March 11th, 2009

There is a continuing effort by educational organizations at every level in Poland to bring a better understanding of Jewish culture to the people and especially the youth of Poland. Through education we can bring understanding and through understanding, respect, if not friendship.

Men As Caregivers

Posted on: March 4th, 2009

I have often written my column about women and their experiences as caregivers. It was not my intension to exclude men, however most support groups I attended were either entirely or mostly made up of women. So naturally, I tend to see things from a woman's perspective.

Brzostek Rediscovers Its Jewish Past

Posted on: March 4th, 2009

The mayor of Brzostek, a Galician shtetl to the east of Tarnow and not far from Pilzno, has recently agreed to restore the memory of the Jews to his town. The Jewish cemetery is to be fenced and a monument erected there, and an additional plaque in memory of the Jews who used to live there is to be unveiled in the town center. The plaque will be unveiled and the cemetery rededicated in a ceremony to take place on Sunday June 14, 2009.

Orthodox In The ‘Wild West’: Samuel Abraham and Miriam Kobey

Posted on: March 4th, 2009

It was in 1859, according to the Central City Colorado History & Historic Facts website, that "John Gregory discovered 'The Gregory Lode' in a gulch near Central City. Within two weeks, the gold rush was on and within two months the population grew to 10,000 people seeking their fortunes.

Warning: Hating Jews May Be Hazardous To Your Health

Posted on: March 4th, 2009

In many countries around the world it is required by law to put warning labels on products, activities or places that can cause injury or death. Thus the labels of many medications and foods or items, such as cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, contain strong warnings on them saying that they are harmful. Likewise beaches that are unsafe to swim in due to a strong current, lack of a lifeguard, or high bacterial count also have signs posted cautioning people not to go swimming. Hospital rooms that contain radioactive products have signs warning about entering.