HOME & FAMILY

Sometimes, in a weak moment, the thought might cross our minds that things are not quite fair. When fabric softeners first came on the market, there was general jubilation; lovely soft towels to cuddle into. However it soon became apparent that things are not perfect in this world.

Of latkes, lungs and lots of Tehillim
by Sara Glaser

CHALLENGES/OPPORTUNITIES

"Hello, Shirley, this is Dr. Brown." It was seven o'clock, Monday morning. The phone's ringing woke me. "I'm sorry I have to tell you this, but your brother has lung cancer, and it's very bad. Can you get to his place right away? I'll wait till you arrive there before I call him so he won't be alone when I tell him that I want him in the hospital this morning."

ASK THE SHADCHAN
Shadchan
by Rebbetzin Nomi Travis

Question: What motivated you to become a matchmaker?

Answer:

We all have personal miracles. If people truly look for the signs of Divine assistance, analyzing daily occurrences, they will inevitably see Hashem's hand in their lives. Everything is orchestrated from above.

UREI BETUV YERUSHOLAYIM — SEEING THE GOOD
It Doesn't Take the Chagim to Make Us Special
by Tzvia Ehrlich-Klein

For at least a week or two before yom tov, and for a week after they all finish, a person here in Israel can just feel a difference in the atmosphere all around. The really amazing thing is that some of the specialness that is felt is actually apparent all year long.

Look Who's Talking!
by Mrs. L. Raffles

Communication is when we 'get the message acros.' There are two main components of communication, the non-verbal and the verbal. The non-verbal is the body posture, the tone of voice, the facial expression and other subtle aspects of the person that communicate something to us without speech (or from within the speech, but are not the words of the speech themselves).

Where's Mommy?
by Risa Rotman

After Sheva Brochos

Chani picked up the phone in her newly decorated apartment. There were boxes, wrapped and still unwrapped, lying all around.

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

Someone sent me an interesting report on the use of statins for cholesterol. Cholesterol is not my strong point, but I will tell you what I know.

POET'S CORNER

In Praise of
by Mindy Aber Barad

In praise of those with open Tehillim on busses
Who cause me to open mine
Who cause you to open yours
With hopes for those of you for whom I open road maps
And pamphlets
But who will never understand
This is for my neighbors
Whose only opportunity to say the Sh'ma
Is on my garage door windows
I think of you
Who walk around with orange reminders
And you who do not want to be reminded
Thank you who focus wholly inward
And you with no focus at all
For those of you
Who live in open houses
And those of you with closed hearts
Because there is always
Hope that you will glance over and see
My smile and my prayers
And my actions will open
At least one small door
When you who sit next to me
Look straight ahead, arms folded
And when you open your lives to me when we first meet
Whether you who slowly let me in
Or love me from the start

For those of you
Who gladly share the air we breathe
And for those of you who don't even know I exist.