HOME & FAMILY

It was Chanuka in Israel. That meant no school, at least not for the girls, lots of latkes and doughnuts, and loads of fun with family and friends visiting. For Elky, it meant finally getting together with her best cousin, Chani, in Bnei Brak, for a couple of days, something she'd been looking forward to for as long as she could remember.

Latkes from Hoffy's
by Tzipy Wolner

She realized that every relationship takes time to build, and to win a mother-in-law's trust demands plenty of patience as well.

The Challa Board
by Risa Rotman

I know that this may sound silly, but the truth is, I can't stand my challa board. It will become clear to you how silly this really is when you realize that I have the same standard challa board that you may have, or have seen over and over again.

BOOK REVIEW
The Miracle Next Door

by Malka Adler and Yona T. Yacobowicz

WHAT? And another big WHAT? Is that how one reviews a book that has just been released on the market and whose review is purported to boost sales?

Shaina Malka Klein o"h
by The Klein Family

Shaina Malka Klein o"h from Rechovot, Israel, the 10- year-old daughter of Dovid and Leah (nee Elefant) Klein (originally from Boro Park), was tragically killed on 2 Tammuz 5764, when crossing the street while having the right of way for pedestrians, when a large van violated the traffic laws and sped around the corner, struck, and killed her while she was in the crosswalk.

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

Recently, we saw a cat bite at Tel HaShomer and I had the opportunity to speak to the people at Misrad HaBriut. the Ministry of Health. It seems that due to poor supervision and the cleanliness among our neighbors in the West Bank, there is now nowhere in the country where rabies has not been seen. It behooves me to warn all, again, that cat bites must be considered for rabies, and one must instruct one's children not to play with these ubiquitous animals.

POET'S CORNER

Flickering Lamps
by Tzipora Zien
Why should I talk to flickering small flames?

Why should your glow awaken noble thoughts?
Continue: spread the Maccabees great fame!
Burn pure and fresh for naught —
Save telling what the One true G-d has wrought.

Why do you shine so warmly these eight nights
to capture thus the hearts of young and old?
The quiet reigns! The essence of the plights
Of His dear people, left untold,
Could change fore'er how history unfolds.

What might you tell of ancient times gone by?
Of Roman soldiers trapped by Psalms and prayer,
Of child and mother ready to deny
The ruler satisfaction for his dare.
They left him with an empty, vacant stare.

You also tell of quiet hours gained
In caves and crannies where the men could learn.
They scurried off to places which contained
Their hidden tops and scrolls, to thus discern
Man's laws from the Divine, and His concern.

You tell how one priest's daughter's great belief
Could trap a general into a snare
He was too well relaxed to feel relief
When his own head, suspended by the hair,
Was severed with that maid's revengeful flare.

Each year you tell another fledgling tale
Of Jews around the world who light and sing
Though winter is most apt to storm and hail
They set their lamps on some quite public thing
And let the Maoz Tzur at twilight ring.

The children carry on with coins and dreidels,
And watch your lilting lights, which dip and sway,
The sparkling eyes of yingelach and maidels,
Shine brighter for the doughnuts and pancakes
Which fried in plenty oil adorn the day.

So this is why, dear little lamps a-shining,
I'm found, reflecting with you at the pane,
You won't find me for brigher lights a-pining,
Your dignified though quiet, pungent, plain
and whispering small lamps relate my gain.

Hope

by Dan Berkowitz

Forever constant, flows through
three dimensions and eye's faithfulness
breeds faces for the future

Gnawing fear of despair its opposite,
unformed behavior
prevents repetitions becoming
custom-made clothing to enwrap
the exquisite speculation.