Ellie S. Grossman
Purim Just Got Sweeter
Purim festivities start March 15.
While many revelers are still recovering from Mardi Gras, the Jewish people are just getting started. It’s almost Purim, and you know what that means. Parades, parties, dancing, costumes, mitzvahs, groggers, and, of course, hamantaschen.
The Secret To A Happy Marriage
This is one of my favorite “Lori Almost Live” videos. It’s about the importance of a husband giving his wife flowers on Shabbos. Not a plant. Not a new phone charger. Not a pair of earrings. Not an empty container of Tupperware leftover from lunch at the office. Fresh flowers are a special gift. And if a man really wants to make a good impression on his better half? Flowers with a simple note.
Any kind of flower–roses, daises, lilies, tulips–is a thoughtful gesture that means a lot. A bouquet of flowers that decorates the table on Friday night warms the heart, strengthens the relationship, and symbolizes beauty. Â And the best part about our Jewish tradition? Â A husband doesn’t have to wait until a birthday, or an anniversary, or a Hallmark card holiday to show his love and gratitude for his wife. He has the opportunity to express his affection every single week.
Good Shabbos. Enjoy your flowers.
How A 12-Minute Drive To The Airport Changed My Life
“Growth occurs when you are
on the edge of your comfort zone.â€
Not exactly sure who told me this quote, but I keep hearing variations of it over and over again, especially as I embark on my spiritual journey.
Living outside the comfort zone means different things to different people. It can be speaking in front of a live audience, asking your boss for a raise, sending a manuscript to a publisher, becoming a vegetarian, taking a Spin class at the gym, being the first to apologize, learning a new language, praying to God out loud, or disconnecting on Shabbat, from sundown on Friday until three stars appear in the sky Saturday night.
Well, I recently stepped outside my comfort zone. I drove JWRP Founding Director Lori Palatnik to the airport.
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“You Had Me At Lori.”
Ellie, Lori & Mimi at JWRP dessert reception at the home of Marilyn & Sam Fox.
When Mimi Pultman called me on the phone back in August to ask me to co-chair the Lori Palatnik event with her, I was on my way to meet my “St Louis Soul Sisters†for dinner at Mediterranean Grill. We like to pretend we’re eating falafel in the Old City.
Anyway, Mimi rattled off a list of reasons why I should consider taking on this important role, even though I was already feeling overwhelmed with several projects that consumed my time. Her rationale:
1. Lori’s coming in town, it’ll be fun!
2. We are both experienced event planners. We can do this.
3. We have connections in the St. Louis Jewish community.
4. We will appoint committees and sub-committees and delegate responsibiities.
5. We have templates for advertisements and invitations, so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
6. We’ll put together a killer action plan and timeline.
7. Then something about minimal amount of  time  and meetings (yeah, right).
Whoohoo! Join Me At the “Launching a Luncheon With Laughter!”
All moms are working moms, but rarely do we get the appreciation we deserve. But that’s all about to change. The Whoohoos, an exciting new St. Louis social group that supports parents, caregivers and local businesses, is here to applaud our efforts and make us feel special. “Whoohoo!â€
If you want to know what the Whoohoos is all about, plus schmooze with fabulous people, win amazing prizes, enjoy a tasty meal that you didn’t have to prepare yourself and a bit of comedy for dessert, then don’t miss their kickoff event, “Launching a Luncheon With Laughter,†on Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Ces & Judy’s, 10405 Clayton Road, in Frontenac’s Le Chateau. Continue reading
Writing Sex Scenes 101
I’ve been writing professionally for more than two decades, so what took me so long to discover the St. Louis Writer’s Guild? Established in 1920, this group has more than 320 members—the most famous one was playwright Tennessee Williams (The Glass Menagerie) who won the short story contest in 1935.
So one recent Saturday morning, I dragged myself out of my warm, cozy bed, even though the streets were still snow covered from the night before and the mailbox was frozen shut. Who in their right mind would sit in a classroom for two hours on a bitter cold weekend, I thought, besides me? I must be crazy. But my purpose was two-fold. One, I wanted to see for myself what the St Louis Writer’s Guild was all about, offering monthly workshops, open mic nights, and an author speaker series to support local wordsmiths. And two, as a co-producer/director of the 2nd annual Listen To Your Mother, I wanted to promote this opportunity for local writers to read their original stories about motherhood in front a live audience.
I expected only a few people at the meeting, and I got there late. To my surprise, after I rushed to the second floor of Kirkwood Community Center, I noticed the room was packed with men and women, dressed in slushy snow boots with their heavy coats and scarves draped on the back of their folding chairs. Everyone eagerly took notes and seemed engrossed in the topic of conversation: “Love Scenes: When to Turn Out the Lights,†presented by local author Lynn Cahoon.
Let’s put it this way. It might have been freezing outside with icicles hanging in the windows, but it sure got hot in here.
JWRP’s Lori Palatnik Coming to STL!
When Lori Palatnik speaks, people listen. We not only listen, we take action. This internationally renowned teacher, speaker and author is the founding director of Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (JWRP), which has brought more than 4,000 women from 15 different countries to Israel since 2009 on a subsidized tour-and-learn program.
The 2013 JWRP “St. Louis Soul Sistas,” on the Aish rooftop, in the Old City.
Her weekly video blog, Lori Almost Live, gets 50,000 views each month on the Aish.com website, and now here’s YOUR opportunity to see her LIVE, in person. (And you don’t need a passport to get in the door).
Back by popular demand, Lori is coming to St. Louis on Monday, February 17 for a public speaking event about “Kabbalah of You—Understanding Yourself and Appreciating Others.†Trust me, you don’t want to miss this fascinating presentation on how the kabbalah analyzes our personality in two parts—body and soul. We’ll not only learn what makes us tick, but how we can better understand and improve the relationships we have in our lives, with our spouse, our children, and ourselves.
If you’re lucky enough to have met Palatnik on a JWRP mission to Israel, then you already know how powerful and relevant her words of wisdom are; and if you’ve never witnessed her in action, then you’re in for a real treat. This Toronto native commands the stage and works the room like an IDF sergeant (only less intimidating and more fun). With microphone in hand—look out—she’s a force to be reckoned with.
The JWRP mission is “to empower women to change the world through Jewish values that transform ourselves, our families, and our communities,” and Palatnik has succeeded in doing just that with no intentions of slowing down anytime soon. Currently, this 53-year-old mother of five travels between her two homes, in Maryland and Israel, with her husband Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik, as she writes follow-up classes and programs for 83 different partnering organizations around the world.
The JWRP is so successful, in fact, Israel’s Ministry of the Diaspora has announced it will double any donation JWRP receives and plans to bring twice the number of JWRP women to Israel in 2014!
Take that Pew study!
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A Letter To Justin Bieber
Dear J.B.,
Is it ok if I call you J.B.? I’ve watched you go through puberty in front of my very eyes. That must be why I feel comfortable referring to you by your initials, J.B., even though your real name is Justin Drew Bieber.
As the voyeuristic world watches your tragic downward spiral that led to your recent DUI arrest, I’m sticking by your side, as any good mom would do with her own child. Some reporters speculate your bizarre behavior and verbal rampage with the cops might be a marketing scheme to change your pop star image to be the quintessential bad boy. Everyone has their opinion. But I think you’re crying out for help. Then again, I’m a mom. You’re following the same footsteps of so many other troubled young celebs—Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes to name a few in your generation.
I wonder what your mom is going through right now as her son’s smiling mug shot dominates the national news and gains more media coverage than the terrorist threats in the Sochi winter Olympics.
Happy New Year (To The Trees)!
Happy New Year, only this time I’m referring to “New Year for the Trees,†a Jewish holiday known as Tu B’Shvat.
As with all Jewish holidays, Tu B’Shvat offers another opportunity to learn, grow, and, of course, eat food that is both symbolic and scrumptious. God I love being Jewish.
You’re Invited! Find Out About Ultimate Moms Israel Getaway!
“St. Louis Soul Sisters” on the Aish rooftop in the Old City.
If one of your New Year’s resolutions includes doing something adventurous that you’ve never done before, then consider this an opportunity knocking on your door.
