By Michele Asa A few years ago, within the space of four months, I made a Bar Mitzvah, then flew to South Africa to be with my mother who was ill and buried her the day after I arrived. One daughter got engaged while I was there. After my return, another daughter had a baby, … Continue reading Choosing to Live with Simcha (Happiness)
By Adina Chrysler No one warned me about the struggle - it’s kind of taboo, because admitting to the difficulty means acknowledging the void, the ache in one's heart. The failed expectations, the dashed hopes and dreams. The gripping loneliness, even while surrounded by loved ones. The pain of being single. It means admitting I … Continue reading Pain of being single leads to Peace in the the Process
By Mindy Rubenstein I’ve gone through multiple miscarriages in my lifetime. The first one was around age 26, a couple months before I got pregnant with my oldest child who is now 16. If you do the math you know I’m in my 40s. The most recent pregnancy loss was last month. I was 11 … Continue reading What I learned from my recent miscarriage
I’m sitting at my desk, distracted by the photo slideshow screensaver scrolling across my computer. My daughter is wearing a pink dress as she makes homemade slushies, a perfect little smile across her sweet face. Then a younger version of my boys comes up -- one still a toddler -- their big, brown eys peering … Continue reading Letting Go of Guilt and Learning to Love
By Anna Frieman, senior, Scheck Hillel Community School Sholem was the kid who always had a smile on his face, who never complained, who was an emblem of love, gratitude, and Jewish pride. One time I asked him why he wore a Kippah, and his answer was so simple but so beautiful. “Because I’m Jewish,” … Continue reading Let’s fight for the light and reach new heights
By Devorah Benchimol The Talmud says: man fears his fellow man more than he fears God. This article was written by Sholem’s mom, Devorah and translated by Anna Frieman. A simple Sunday night, during the crazy COVID quarantine. A family readying itself for just another week to come. Me, preparing, doing my things, hearing my … Continue reading Sholem’s Legacy
By Mindy Rubenstein Gail Halpert takes daily walks around her tree-lined Mandarin neighborhood, sometimes a mile or longer. She dresses beautifully, puts on her necklace and earrings, and carefully does her hair. She loves to cook, especially things like hearty soup and other favorites from her childhood in Romania, where her family grew fruits and … Continue reading Gail Halpert: Finding Light in the Darkness
The Hebrew word, chesed, is often defined as lovingkindness. According to Kabbalah, it is one of ten sefirot: emanations or qualities of G-d. In this visual expression, the word chesed is approached from a mystical perspective. “Peace and Love” and “Be Kind” are not new concepts. They have ancient roots. The Jewish prayer for peace … Continue reading Marlene Burns: Art
