HOME & FAMILY

What's the last thing you want to hear at your chasuna?

"Seconds, anyone?"

Your guests may love receiving another piece of shnitzel at the meal, but that means you overestimated and paid much more than you should have for the meal. Your late arrivals may appreciate a bar overflowing with pastries and kugels, but it means you'll have a lot of leftovers -- which you may not be able to take home.

Falsehood has Twins
a true story, believe it or not
by S. Eishel

The familiar fragrance of food laid out on tables greeted her as she entered the Beit Hachlama. Her heart leaped up at this warm welcome.

"Here, lay your baby down in bassinet No. 12 and you can go right into the dining room."

Children in Single-Parent Families --
Did You Ever Realize?
by Tzvia Ehrlich-Klein

It is hard to raise a family of happy, well-adjusted, Torah loving children. It is even harder to do so when you are a single parent.

Decisions, Decisions
by A. Ross, M.A. Ed.

Practice makes perfect in most walks of life, and decision- making needs practice.

In the same way that a judge may not make a decision after he has received bribery, so may we not bribe ourselves!

Going With the Cash Flow
by Rosally Saltsman

Many people, when they make financial decisions, tend to stick to them and forget about them. For example, if someone takes out a loan or opens a trust fund or savings account, or buys insurance, once the deed is done, it's a done deal.

Sleepless Nights Vs. Cry-It-Out
by KSR

With a little patience and creativity, you can tenderly help your baby sleep through the night.

Your Medical Questions Answered!
by Joseph B. Leibman, MD

Calcium seems to be in the news all the time. Yes, women after menopause have lower levels of calcium in their bones. True, your intake must be adequate. But this isn't the whole story. You need vitamin D to absorb calcium. After that, you need adequate levels in the blood which is governed by the glands in neck called the parathyroids and by the kidneys. Cancer and medications may also affect the level in the blood. Hormone levels must be adequate to cause the bones to uptake the calcium. This depends on various hormones.

POET'S CORNER

The Invisible Woman
(Cherchez la Femme)
by Tzipora Zien

How would you like, just once, to be invisible?
One could conduct one's business quietly.
The world would not take note of one so trivial.
One could proceed all day most privately.

Why should I have a penchant for the boisterous?
What causes me to broadcast what I say?
What would I lose if clothes I wore were generous,
If none of me was out there on display?

I walked along Geula one hot Tuesday.
A woman quite discreetly shopping there
Proceeded with her packages so sweetly.
Well-dressed. I must admit that no one cared.

One couldn't see if she was fat or skinny.
Her waistline was not showing, high or low.
Her hair, though had it grown quite thick or thinly,
Was covered much too well for us to know!

The most amazing thing was her demeanor.
She wasn't looking right or left at all.
She didn't care to know if I had seen her,
Or if her presence caused the world to stall.

I envied her! Her staunch, courageous quiet.
Her silent stepping up into the bus.
I'd love to learn her attitude and try it!
She disappeared and left the world nonplussed.

Much later now, my own impressions heeding,
It seems I saw not one, but two such gems.
Both quietly, intriguingly proceeding,
Not begging interest in their cuffs or hems.

The color of their clothes I don't remember!
In fact, they wore long shawls which covered all.
And this in searing sun, not in November,
Their visage, stance and modesty enthrall.

Yet in our day and age, is this desired?
The cutting of our clothes expresses well
What thoughts and foibles in our brains are mired!
We can't escape the tales our fashions tell.

The color shows the world that we're important.
Take note, not tight but slimming is the touch.
We would not want to seem to be outlandish,
Not tall or fat or skinny! Well, not much.

Must one be modern even if one's chubby?
Is lighter, softer, cooler really nice?
And if it drapes a bit too much for Bubby,
Do other classmates' compliments suffice?

Truth is, it's hard to go where folks might see you!
You never know just who might want to look.
No matter how one stands, one feels on preview.
Sophistication's worth the price it took?

Dear precious Jewish daughters, Jewish mothers,
The eye beholds much more than need be seen.
You think that it's important to show others
Exactly how you look -- on every seam?

Your daughter won't be sought out at the corner.
Her qualities will show enough at school,
Or in the shul, the wedding hall or parlor.
The shadchonim won't care if she is `cool'.

The more invisible we make our treasures
The less the evil eye will come to hunt.
Let's not fall prey to modern fashion's measures
Lest sholom bayis comes to bear the brunt.

Those unassuming, covered Jewish figures
Showed nothing of their ID on the street.
Their chosen garb this single thought might trigger!
Let's learn through them the way to be discreet.

There's truly nothing wrong if one's transparent.
The world may stare if nothing can be gleaned.
Your youthful assets need not be apparent.
THAT dignity's your beauty, sight unseen!

[Ed. No, YATED is not advocating wearing shawls, but certainly a lesson can be learned from this fashion...]