On Our Own/Cheryl Kupfer

My all powerful Father hadn’t protected me. He had let a biological bogeyman grab me.

As I mentioned in Part One, my journey to diagnosis was launched by a simple sneeze that caused a sharp pain for a few seconds in July 2017. And that was the only time that happened.

Don't we all complain about being tired or having aches and pains somewhere?

The fact is more people are getting cancer – but not necessarily dying from it. Many are cured, or at least are in remission for years.

If I am a victim of some mishap, let it be because of my own shortcomings, not someone else’s.

Hitler's destruction of the Jewish family continued long after the liberation.

Anyone who walks on a regular basis has likely, on more than one occasion, been startled by the enraged barking of an angry dog,...

Internal bullying is a private version of lashon harah.

I know that in the great scheme of things, these irritants are minor, but they do tend to add up.

I knew that there would be many women at this Chanukah party who, like me, were reeling over the news that a friend of ours had been niftar a couple of days earlier from cancer. We were beyond shocked.

As a round-faced child with big cheeks, I was often pinched by visitors to our home, or in shul by acquaintances of my father.

Hashem gave us the right to storm the gates of heaven with an avalanche of requests, even demands.

So is this demoralizing situation fixable?

In my book, all medical appointments take priority. But just as vital as going to your medical appointment is actually booking one (pun intended) in the first place.

Don't assume that the "no" from a doctor is based on "know"ledge.

Why did no one speak up and warn this young lady?

The inevitable conclusion of the study was that holding back, delaying gratification, leads to a more stable and positive life.

As Torahdik Jews we are expected to view every day as Parents Day.

Why does Chani have a lollipop in her mouth? I told you not to give her another one!

We still have an inner voice that silently screams, It's just not fair!

Purim teaches us that life is like a Ferris wheel – one moment you can be on top, and suddenly you are at the bottom.

Is there a precedent in the thousands of years since Jews accepted the Torah where there was such a widespread disdain of working?

There is no guarantee that being "pound-wise" will extend our lives, but medical science insists that it helps.

Throughout life, we will face many extremely difficult challenges - custom-made Chanukahs that Hashem tailored for us.

Pure evil speech is a weapon of mass destruction...

We tend to take our routine abilities for granted.

This can, to some extent, be achieved by having a will, letting your loved ones know where you are to be buried, and advising them of your assets and where to locate them.

I believe that the up-and-coming generations will not live in the grand single-family homes many of them grew up in.

Even a kindergarten student can understand how the pennies collectively put in the pushka can add to real money that can help a kallah buy linens or feed a family for a week.

Boaz obviously finds it necessary to reassure Rut that no one will hassle or bully her while she is gleaning wheat, and twice he admonishes his field hands not to rebuke or shame her and make her feel threatened in any way.