Putting Your Best Self Forward
Ironically, many people, especially men become put together after marriage, when they are under the loving guidance of their wives who ensure that e.g. missing buttons are sown or stained shirts are dry cleaned and pressed, and fingernails trimmed and clean.
The Ugly Duckling – Happily Ever After?
It’s like being told you’re fat, and even after actually losing weight and looking slim and svelte for years, the person will likely see herself as a fat person masquerading as a thin one.
Sensible Suggestions
Make sure when walking alone on Shabbat and Yom Tov, that you have your name and/or address in a pocket (if there is a eruv) since you won’t have your purse or phone with you.
Jumping Back On The “Swing”
When it appeared that I was going to be okay and the teachers could start breathing again, they asked what in the world made me do such a dangerous thing, jumping off the swing in midair.
Gimpel The Oxymoron
I am convinced that when it comes to expressing one’s feelings or opinions about anything under the sun, Yiddish is one of the best languages to do it in.
Ignoring The ‘Facts On The Ground’
Sadly, those who should be supportive and encouraging may be pessimistic by nature or have their own agenda for not wanting the individual to succeed.
‘Civil’ Divorce
I am well aware that if both spouses had the ability to compromise, capitulate and cooperate in order to emerge with an acceptable division of what is mutually theirs, they most likely wouldn’t be divorcing in the first place.
Belittle Your Kids And They Will Be Little
Kids, and of course adults, have an ingrained need to be validated; to have the ups and downs in their life acknowledged.
Al Chait
We assure ourselves that we will take the high road and refrain from lashon hara or spreading gossip – even if the information is true.
The Middah of being Self-ish
Why consider yourself as being less? Aren’t you also made b’tzelem Elokim – in Hashem's image – and aren’t you worthy of help – from yourself?
Hashgacha Pratis – Divinely Created ‘Coincidence’
The odds of me bumping into this stranger whom I had never met previously, or since, were extremely low except that Hashem had engineered this scenario.
On My Own
It's extremely daunting and time consuming to basically put two strangers together and be a frequent go-between, negotiator, and adviser, but when it happens, and eventually children are born, you become a partner with Hashem in creating worlds.
It’s All Relative
Over the years, I have been asked how I get ideas for my articles – often from conversations with random strangers! That’s actually how I was discovered way back in 1985!
‘I Need To Matter’
One friend told me that her mother did not go to her brother’s high school graduation because he was not the valedictorian but only the salutatorian.
Fighting Haman Through Praise
I have an accomplished friend who is careful to maintain a healthy weight and works out several times a week – yet she cannot accept a compliment.
The Devil, Free Will And Covid
The last worldwide pandemic to hit the global population was the Spanish Flu, over 100 years ago. Over the last few months, I've asked myself why a pandemic now – and for over two years?
The Beginning Of Wisdom…
The beginning of wisdom is rooted in fearing Hashem. I realized that it is a supreme declaration of faith, emunah when one truly fears G-d.
On Our Own
There are subtle signs of a potentially problematic person. I have often said, people should marry people with compatible meshugasim.
Educating Students To Watch Over Their Souls
I'd like to point out certain lifesaving classes that I think would be in the best interest of all students to be taught, and should be part of the curriculum.
A Lesson Of Achdut From Man’s Best Friend
What struck me this time was the fact that these animals have no guyvah chinam – baseless snobbery. (Remember, you saw this phrase first here.)
Money Makes the World – Collapse
There have been numerous tragedies that have resulted in premature death and irrevocable injury – some extremely unlikely to happen, and quite rare, but none were inconceivable.
Judge Of The Truth
There are judges and lawyers both in secular and religious courts who ignored the facts so as to curry favor with the more prominent party in a financial or custody dispute. They frame their actions as being halachically justifiable.
A Shabbat Prayer
It’s one thing if you are responsible for your own misfortune, but so much more unbearable if you did all the right things and someone else who was not paying attention, or who took safety shortcuts, or used shoddy materials, caused horrific, irrevocable harm.
Be My Guest
Visitors have to be mindful when they are visiting family in a private house, that they are not in a hotel, where they feel it's ok to leave a mess for someone else to clean up.
Ruth – A True Torah Jew
Ruth knew that Torah was the fount of all spiritual and emotional growth. And like the sage Hillel,... Ruth too was willing to suffer both physically and emotionally to honor her vow to be a Torah Jew.
Understanding Genocide through Covid
The teacher was so distraught and horrified, both by the murder and his undeniable failure to get through to his students, that he packed up and left.
Covid on Wheels
There are dissenting opinions by health experts globally, especially now, a year later, but it’s not that simple to uproot yourself and go to a less hysterical jurisdiction.
UnSpoken Lashon Hara
As a consequence of these negative thought processes, opportunities to achieve one’s goals are flitted away, having never been given a chance to develop.
Silver Linings In Stormy Clouds
If one can’t watch the simcha live, there is the option to view it in its entirety at a more convenient time.
Journalistic Integrity – an Oxymoron?
The city decided to have a forum at which people could express their opinion for or against Sunday closures. My parents had a shoe store and I decided to argue on their behalf as to why they should be allowed to open on Sunday.
