The Day After Purim…
'Twas the morning after Purim and in a ba'al batishe house,
A bleary-eyed husband tried not to wake up his spouse,
‘Playing’ It Safe For Your Children
A few years ago I wrote in this column that at the bris of my oldest son - held in a shul whose members were for the most part elderly - a wizened old man approached me, peered into my face and muttered in a raspy voice with a Yiddish accent, "May your children sit shiva for you." I was too stunned to say anything to him and just shook my head as he walked away. I thought, "nebach, he must be demented."
No Laughing Matter
During Yom Tov, a group of my friends - all middle-aged ( but youthful of course) babyboomers were chatting about the usual things women smooze about when one of them shared with us the call she had recently gotten from her son-in-law's mother.
Coming Out Of The Cancer Closet (Part II)
Back in the fall of 2002, nine years after my initial diagnosis of thyroid cancer - the last four of those being told that I was cured - my doctors discovered a tumor in the area where my thyroid used to be. (My malignant thyroid been removed via surgery.)
The Doll’s Tale
Dear Readers:
The following short story is fictitious, but the situation of Jewish children during the Holocaust being raised by gentile families or in Catholic convents and orphanages is not. While some were re-united with family members who survived the death camps – many were not, and remain lost both physically and religiously. This story is in memory of all the lost children. May they be reunited with their families with the coming of Moshiach.
The Evil ‘Fourth Son’
The Haggadah brings to our attention the "Four Sons," each of whom has a distinct nature that essentially represents the main types of Jews who cross our path. The one we most admire is the "wise" son. He is the kind of young man every parent, prospective in-law and teacher dreams of having come into their life. He is intelligent, sincere and inquisitive and has a thirst for knowledge. He knows where he comes from and embraces his Yiddishkeit.
It Started With A Sneeze (Part 1)
Don't we all complain about being tired or having aches and pains somewhere?
Pride, Prejudice And Potatoes
There is a wise Yiddish saying that translates into this observation: "Yichus (illustrious ancestors) is like a potato - they are both under the ground."
Warning: Hating Jews May Be Hazardous To Your Health
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.
Embracing Our Personal Chanukahs
Throughout life, we will face many extremely difficult challenges - custom-made Chanukahs that Hashem tailored for us.
Reality ‘Check’: The Buck Does Stop…
Young adults in the thousands have recently returned from a year (or two or three) in Israeli yeshivas and seminaries, full of youthful exuberance and idealism.
‘Getting Back On The Swing’
I remember a mishap years ago while in first grade and happily swinging on the playground swing during recess.
Sh’mor Al Nafshecha – Watch Over Your Life
The Torah admonishes each Jew to 'take care of yourself,' to do what's necessary to stay alive and well. Obviously this means to do life enhancing actions like eating and sleeping properly, taking precautions like putting on a seat belt when in a car, and not taking unnecessary risks, like jaywalking across a busy street or walking on a ledge 40 stories high. Most importantly, one needs to get medical attention when sick or injured.
Bearing The Unbearable
Pesach seemed heavier this year. I'm not talking in terms of the tremendous amount of food that was consumed or the seemingly endless lifting, bending, scrubbing, scouring and cooking that is part and parcel of pre and post Passover preparations as well as during the chag.
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.
Self-Directed Bullying And The Shield Of David
Internal bullying is a private version of lashon harah.
Am Yisrael Chai
February/Adar is birthday month in the Kupfer family, with four out of five members born during this period.
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?
The Clock Is Ticking
The other day, while schmoozing with a friend, the conversation (as chats often do) turned to food. My friend talked about a delicious dish she had eaten as a guest during Shavuot. She mentioned how she planned to replicate it in her kitchen, but hadn't gotten around to it yet.
Super Men
There are fathers who bravely step up to the plate and fill in the maternal vacuum with their love and devotion.
‘Did You Add Salt to a Wound?’
Just days ago on Yom Kipper, The Day of Judgment, Jews gathered as one in shuls, shteibels and temples and desperately and profusely promised Hashem that we would reform our ways and improve our behaviors and actions towards Him, our Father and Creator, as well as towards our fellow man, who, being made in His image, is deserving of our respect and compassion, and of being treated as an equal, no matter their social or financial status, age or gender.
The Invisible Woman
Charedi rabbinical leaders in Israel, and I imagine globally, are greatly perturbed, even horrified by the “chumrah” some Orthodox Israeli women have taken upon themselves – that of covering their bodies up in a manner similar to traditional Muslim women, who wear head to toe, shroud-like black burkas.
‘It’s Your Fault’
I grew up in an era where customers were always right - even if they weren't - because it was good for business to accommodate them, even if they were out of line.
The Story Of Chanukah: ‘I Think I Can’
Chanukah is just about upon us and Jews across the planet are looking forward to family gatherings, delicious food (you can’t feel too guilty eating oily latkes and high carb donuts on the chag – hey, it’s practically a mitzvah to do so); giving and receiving gifts and in general celebrating our survival – our spiritual continuance as God-fearing Jews. (Our physical survival is an event we acknowledge on Purim.)
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.
Remembering An Eishet Chayil
Most Pesach observers - after a week of overdosing on matzah and potatoes - in a myriad of manifestations look forward to when Passover has, well, passed over.
Politically Correct Krimkeit
The Presbyterian Church USA voted to divest from three companies that do business with Israel.
Critical Comments And Your Children’s Futures
As my friend Eve (not her real name) and I started filling our plates at a recent buffet dinner, she commented that lucky for her, her mother wasn't with us.
‘If My Son Is Treif So Is His Money’
A few days ago, while out of town, I connected with an old friend.
Self-Image And Barking Dogs (Part I)
Chanukah is over and we are now dealing with the repercussions of wantonly indulging in crispy, crunchy, melt in your mouth potato latkes and overdosing on sugary, chocolaty, jelly-oozing donuts.
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