Tragic School Shooting Teaches About Strength, Suffering
Once again, our nation mourns. This time we grieve and struggle to understand last week’s bloody rampage at Virginia Tech, where 33 lives were abruptly ended. Continue reading
When it comes to Mom’s Memory, Forget About It
Motherhood changes a woman in so many ways that she’s never the same person again. Something happens during the birthing process that not only warps her cognitive skills, but messes with the nerve cells that control memory and the ability to focus on one thing at a time. No wonder moms share a common characteristic, and that is forgetfulness. The frequency of these amnesia-like attacks increases over the years, in much the same way that the mismatched assortment of plastic drinking cups and lids with chewed straws accumulate over time. Continue reading
Omer Bridges Passover And Shavout
Before you throw away the box of leftover crumbled matzah, just keep in mind that the Jewish journey to Sinai isn’t over yet. Sure, we can eat bagels once again, but we also have many more opportunities to learn about our history before the next major festival Shavuot gets here. Continue reading
Lotsa Matzah Tempts Your Tastebuds
Welcome to Passover, a seven-day matzah festival in which Jews everywhere remember their history of slavery and celebrate their freedom by concocting appetizing ways to eat the plain crackers for an entire week. And like every other symbolic Jewish food, matzah has a dramatic story behind it. Continue reading
Passover Seder Caters to Child’s Curiosity
You know how little kids ask their parents “why†all the time? Everything is a question. Why is the sky blue? Why do I sleep with my eyes closed? Why is applesauce mushy? Why is your name mommy? When we give them an answer, they usually follow up with another “why†all over again. This unending conversation can drive a parent crazy.
In Judaism, the curious child in all of us keeps our religion alive. This lesson is never more clear than at Passover, also known as “The Festival of Spring†or “The Season of Our Freedom†or “The Festival of Unleavened Bread,†or Pesach for short. Continue reading
Lice Liven Up Seder, But Traumatize Household
When it comes to the 10 plagues in the Passover story, I would rather suffer in real life through a hailstorm (I’ve got insurance) and darkness (I’ll carry a flashlight) than go through the anguish of lice again. These pesky little insects are a parent’s worst nightmare. Just ask me. I lived through lice three years ago when my daughter and several of her unlucky classmates that I know of got the itch to scratch while they were still in preschool.
I remember the day that lice turned my happy home upside down. Continue reading
When In Doubt, Do As the Jews Do
When the Sunday school teacher asks the second-graders to draw a picture of what God means to them, most of the students grab their colored markers and eagerly get to work. They waste no time making bright rainbows, beautiful flowers, puffy clouds, beaming sunshine, twinkling stars, and an assortment of bearded stick figures. I join other parents in the classroom for this thought-provoking activity, and I witness first hand how the topic of God sparks creativity in grownups and children alike. Everyone seems to enjoy the opportunity to explore God out loud; everyone, that is, except my daughter. Continue reading
Making Conversation With Answering Machines
Let’s face it—we live in a world of faceless communication. Answering machines and other wireless wizardry substitute real voices, not to mention impersonal emails take the place of handwritten letters. Think about it–phone tag is now considered a sport or human interaction, and I’m guilty of playing the game. As a matter of fact, if I dial someone’s number and a real person answers the phone, I’m disappointed because I’m not in the mood to make real conversation anymore. Continue reading
Queen Esther Uses Beauty and Brains To Save Her People
“I need a queen, a nice new queen
To sit beside me on my throne
And if she’s very nice to me
I’ll give her half of all I own.â€
Sounds like a shady personal ad to me. Actually, this silly rhyme is a favorite Purim song among preschoolers, who parade in their gowns, crowns, and swords every year on the fourteenth day of Adar, and pretend to be powerful King Ahasuerus, villainous Haman, blessed Mordecai, and his younger cousin, the beautiful Queen Esther.
On this mysterious and mischievous holiday of Purim, children aren’t the only ones who shake their groggers and have a great time. Continue reading
Children On Loan From God, and There’s No Exchange Policy
Some parents live vicariously through their children. When it comes to their kid’s success, some moms and dads take it personally. When it comes to their child’s failures, they take that personally, too. I guess some parents figure that if they didn’t get it right the first time, that is, in their own childhood, then surely they can get another shot at perfection when they raise their own son or daughter. Continue reading