Turning Pain Into Blessings
The Torah tells us that ancient Egypt had 49 levels of contaminating impurities and Hashem wanted us out before the fiftieth would become viral.
Is It Really PR? (Part One)
I am interrupting the sequence of my articles regarding questions posed by widows and widowers. B'Ezrat Hashem, I will continue that discussion in future columns. But for now, I feel compelled to address the tragic events that have once again unfolded in Eretz Yisrael. I would also like to remind our readers to daven and say Tehillim for the valorous wounded Israeli soldiers who were so savagely attacked. I make a special point of this because shockingly, I have discovered how few of us stop to consider the pain of our brethren.
A Vacuum To Be Filled (Part Two)
In last week's column I published a letter from a young woman who was raised in an assimilated, Reform home, but something in her soul always yearned to make a connection with Hashem and her Jewish roots. Unfortunately however, despite the fact that she grew up in a predominantly Orthodox community in New York, no one reached out to her. None of her neighbors ever thought of inviting her for a Shabbos meal, to shul, or their sukkah, and the yearning in her heart remained unfulfilled. And so it was that she became easy prey for an evangelical missionary who enticed her into being baptized and joining a Messianic Christian sect.
Anguish That Does Not Go Away: The Singles Problem (Part Two)
Last week I shared a letter from a 30-plus young woman who was very troubled over the challenges confronting singles. She felt the Jewish community was not sufficiently engaged in reaching out to and helping the many singles desperately looking for their soul mates.
Crises In Faith – Two Letters (Part I)
Dear Rebbetzin Jungreis:
I was referred to speak with you by Rebbetzin _________________, wife of the late Rabbi ________________________ of ___________. The rabbi, zt'l, was my spiritual mentor and good friend, and prior to his unfortunate passing at a young age, I found solace and comfort in his wisdom and advice.
Singles In Crisis – A Reader’s Thoughts
Last week’s column was meant to be the last, for now, on the subject of shidduchim. Because of the problems singles experience in finding their soul mates, I had devoted several columns to the subject and was prepared to move on – until I received an e-mail I feel is a must read in order for us to gain a better understanding of the pain some of our singles are experiencing.
The Return Of Blood Libels
You may recall that not too long ago, after returning from a tour of Europe where I spoke in a different country every day, I wrote in this column that Europe 2009 is reminiscent of pre-Holocaust Europe. Anti-Semitism is once again raising its sinister, ugly head, not only in Europe, but throughout the world, and we, the Jewish people, are sleeping, even as we did in the early 30s.
A Society Obsessed with Toys
In a nutshell, I am intolerant of today’s addictions.
What Are We To Do?
It is said, at the end of days before the coming of Mosiach, warfare will take place in our streets
When Children Fall Through The Cracks
Dear Rebbetzin Jungreis,
As a regular follower of your columns, I am aware you are writing about your recent journeys that took you throughout the world on a mission to bring Torah to our people. I truly appreciate the importance of your work and have personally met many people who have become Jewishly committed after hearing you speak or reading your book. Nevertheless, may I be so presumptuous as to ask you to interrupt your series and respond to my letter, which is critically urgent?
The Gift Of Unity
During the past several weeks I have shared many of my own personal experiences and those of others. I am referring not only to my recent hospitalization following the breaking of a hip, but also to my series of articles on hashgachah pratis – events that befall us that can easily be attributed to random happenings but upon closer scrutiny and honest introspection testify to the ever-guiding Hand and mercy of Hashem.
‘What’s Happening In The World? – I’m Afraid’
Special Note: I would like to thank the many people who have written expressing their appreciation for my series of columns titled "When Children Fall Through the Cracks." I am most grateful for the overwhelming response and I hope everyone who wrote will understand that while I would have liked to publish all the letters, for the time being I am closing the discussion to focus on the many other subjects that have reached my desk.
‘Learn From The Rebbetzin, Mom’
I have been overwhelmed by the e-mails and letters I’ve received in response to my series of articles focusing on my recent accident and surgery – so much so that while I wrote last week that the subject would be closed with that column, I feel compelled to share some of these communications with you.
We Can Make A Difference
How many of our promises are still throbbing in our hearts and how many have been put away with our Yom Kippur machzorim until next year? Commit to making this year COUNT!
A Little Bit More Sensitivity
Dear Rebbetzin Jungreis:
I am writing you regarding a situation I have come to realize is much more common among couples than people realize. The subject is infertility. My husband and I have been married fifteen years and have had serious medical problems having children from the start of our marriage.
I Am Saddened (Part One)
Dear Rebbetzin Jungreis:
Once again, Yom Tov has come and gone. I was hoping that with all the things going on in the world, people would have learned something...or at least would want to change.
Zaidie Is Not Here (Part Four)
In contemporary society, most souls are undernourished to the point of “neshamah anorexia.”
Shidduchim: Nothing Has Changed
Despite myriad matchmaking programs the world over the growth in singles population remains daunting
A Good Heart Above All
The treasure that Rebbetzin Jungreis, a”h, left behind is her teaching that continue to guide us. This week's legacy is a continuation on last week's column on shidduchim.
‘Can I Trust Him?’
An engrossing tale of a complex shidduch issue-A wonderful shidduch except for one thing: The wonderful young man is not that observant. What should she do?
The Jewish Tragedy
The “Jewish tragedy” I'm referring to is a disease that afflicts our generation: Spiritual Blindness
Who Cares For Whom?
Rebbetzin Jungreis, a”h, sharing her eternal wisdom with a woman facing multi-generational challenges.
The Pain Of A Family Torn Apart (Part One)
Dear Rebbetzin Jungreis:
I feel embarrassed to write to you about the conflicts that are tearing our family apart, but I have no recourse. I have tried many avenues; however none have worked and I am hoping that, if you publish my letter, the people involved will recognize themselves and perhaps get the message.
I Wasted My Years (Conclusion)
In last week's column I published a letter from a woman in her late forties, a physician, who, despite her success, is very unhappy in her personal life. She is the child of a troubled family. Her parents divorced when she was a teenager. The separation was traumatic and left much bad feeling in its wake. The young woman was determined to make a life for herself and, in doing so, somehow missed her opportunity to marry and build a family.
The Guarantors
We want our children to have self-esteem. Can there be a greater generator of self-esteem in children than their knowing they were chosen to be the guarantors of the Torah?
Lollipops Don’t Fall From The Sky
Ever optimistic and full of faith, the Rebbetzin offers strong guidance and inspiration to a Baalas Teshuva who is waiting to meet her Basherte
Giving Blessings To Everyone, Everywhere
Eternal wisdom and guidance from Rebbetzin Jungresi (A"H)
Closing Our Eyes To The New Haman (Part II)
Last week I described some prophecies concerning the wakeup calls that would come to our people when the arrival of Mashiach was near. Unfortunately, we have yet to attune ourselves to the sound of those footsteps.
Jewish Without Being Jewish
You can’t protest that you desire to be part of the Jewish community, that you espouse Jewish values, and at the same time marry a gentile woman and raise non-Jewish children. That, Mr. Feldman, is the definition of chutzpah.
An American Tisha B’Av
A few weeks ago, I published a story entitled "Will Your Grandchildren Remain Jewish?" In that article I reported on a TV program that focused on intermarriage. As offensive as that situation was, nothing quite compared to an article that came to my attention through the good offices of Mr. Andrew Friedman, who is a prominent attorney and a leader of the Los Angeles Jewish community.