My children grew up before my husband and I got this parenting thing down pat, but we did get a few things right. One of them was forming strong relationships with other adults whom we were happy to have in our children’s lives. I don’t remember how old I was when I observed that childhood...
Last week Jews around the world celebrated the holiday of Purim. Starting two weeks before the holiday, we revel in a party-like atmosphere. Jewish elementary schools hold silly hat and pajama days, and you can find an abundance of singing, antics and humorous spoofs in high schools. So, forgive me for thinking that someone was...
I truly believe that God wants all of us to succeed in what we do in life. But people I know (some family and friends) that succeeded in their professions seem to get more greedy. All they really talk about is how much money they made. Deep down I feel I don’t know these people...
There are at least three separate groups that hate President Trump, each for its own reason. Some people hate him because he’s an outsider to Capitol Hill and doesn’t play the “you-rub-my-back-and-I’ll-rub-yours” game. Another group hates him for enacting more conservative policies and appointing more conservative justices than any other president in recent memory. Yet...
A ‘Your Mother’s Guidance’ post by Rebecca Masinter Ancient Jewish wisdom draws a connection between two months of the Jewish year that at first glance seem to stand in opposition to each other. We are told: Just as when [the month of] Av enters, our joy is diminished, so too, when [the month of] Adar...
Fine restaurants pay as much attention to the way the food looks on the plate as they do to how it tastes. When you’re charging a lot for a meal, every aspect matters. At home, while I don’t glop food onto a plate in an unsightly mess, neither do I spend time creating radish spirals...
My father-in-law, of blessed memory, used to say that people aren’t balance sheets. You can’t tout up a subjective view of a person’s good and bad points, do a quick mathematical computation and emerge with a ranking. Say someone always shoveled his elderly neighbors’ drives (+3), gave 15% of his income to charity (+3) and...
Dear Rabbi Daniel and Susan, I’ve been married for 9 years to a pretty great guy. We have two boys and a girl, also a dog. I have a full time job and I also take care of most of the inside-the-house chores and organize all the activities for the kids and family. My husband and...
Anyone who spends any time in neighborhoods populated by Bible-believing, religiously inclined people, knows that, for the most part, such people are kinder, gentler, more empathetic and more compassionate than the general population. Sometimes, however, unselfish behavior can morph into unwarranted meekness and timidity. Here are five questions that might help determine if you have...
A “Your Mother’s Guidance” post by Rebecca Masinter The book of Exodus ends with the completion and assembly of the Tabernacle. The description of assembling the materials, building the vessels, and sewing the tapestries and clothing for the Priests are in the active tense, “and he made,” “and he placed,” with one exception. Verse 40:17...
