Moms Make Connections, Build Community on Facebook
I never thought that I was the type to crumble under peer pressure, surrender to the insanity, and plummet into the bizarre, underground world of web-based social networking. Call me old-fashioned, but I’d rather schmooze over a café latte at Starbucks than silly icons in cyberspace. Continue reading
Toasting the New Year is Good for the Heart
Last year I made a New Year’s resolution to never make a New Year’s resolution again. Once again, I can’t keep any promises to myself. This year I’ve started another new tradition. In my annual holiday letter that I mail to family and friends, many whom already know everything about my year’s worth of reminiscence, I declare a catchy new slogan to live by for the year ahead. In 2008, for example, my motto was “Celebrate in 2008,†and that certainly came true with Jack’s bar mitzvah, the biggest celebration for my family last year. In 2009, I couldn’t make up my mind: “Wine and Dine in 2009†or “Feelin’ Fine in 2009.†Both are worthwhile objectives, don’t you think? Continue reading
Surviving Holidays Requires Twist on Tradition
I’ve gotten smarter over the years, especially when it comes to preparing for Hanukkah, the seasonal celebration that reminds us of the wondrous miracles that occurred long ago. It’s a miracle all right that I get everything done, from buying presents and baking cookies to planning parties and decorating my home. Hanukkah, the Hebrew word for “dedication,†was never meant to emphasize such extravagant gift giving, but I can’t help myself. Even though the true meaning of Hanukkah is seen in the light of the menorah, which reminds us to never take for granted our religious freedom, I overindulge anyway. Continue reading
Menorah Lights Way for Future Generations
The Jewish people are a “light unto the nations,†and our mission to keep the miracle alive is never brighter than at Hanukkah time when the flickering candles on the menorah symbolize hope and joy. Each time we light a candle, we are reminded of the possibility of miracles in our lives. We remember that in a time of darkness our ancestors had the courage to struggle for freedom—freedom to be themselves, freedom to worship in their own way.
Growing up, I thought that lighting the menorah was the symbol to eat dinner and get a present. Continue reading
Mitzvahs Highlight Another Holiday Season
Jewish people love tradition—even when the holiday isn’t one of our own, like Christmas. We share in the merriment of this widely celebrated Christian festival because it gives us an opportunity to do another mitzvah, not just see a movie and eat moo goo gai pan. Continue reading
Spread the Yiddish Word this Holiday Season
Yiddish is becoming a lost language, so any effort to preserve the dialect of our ancestors is worthy of attention. Actually, Yiddish is older than English, originating in Spain in the thirteenth century and then becoming a more commonplace lingo after the fifteenth century when Jews migrated to Eastern Europe, Poland, Galicia, Hungary, Rumania, and Russia. Yiddish comes from the German word “Judisch,†meaning “Jewish.†In the Yiddish language itself Yiddish means “Jewish.†Continue reading
Sharing Our Bounty Is Jewish Tradition
To get you in the mood for Thanksgiving, here’s a bit of trivia:
Question: Where did the pilgrims first land?
Answer: Plymouth Rock, which is now Massachusetts.
Question: Who was the first tribe to entertain lavishly—the Wampanoag Indians or the Jewish people?
Answer: The Jews. (That’s a no-brainer).
Question: Did the English settlers and Native Americans eat turkey at the first thanksgiving meal?
Answer: Probably not. Historical documents indicate that they gobbled up venison and wildfowl, but no pumpkin pie with whipped topping.
Question: Which president proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day?
Answer: George Washington. (This is a trick question). Continue reading
‘Forever Lily’ Blends Dreams and Reality for Emotional Storytelling
Every once in awhile I devour a book in a day, not counting the times I crammed for a college exam. A good story allows me to escape into another world as each page unfolds with curious characters, twisting plots, and complex human emotions that stay with me long after I read the acknowledgements. Then again, I sobbed uncontrollably throughout the memoir about a dog named Marley. Continue reading
Inter-Racial Adoptions Bring New Meaning to Motherhood
A child is a gift from God. Ask any mother who adopts a child and she will tell you so. They may not share the same skin color, race, or blood, and they may come from opposite sides of the world, but they are bashert, a Hebrew word that means two people who are meant to be together. Even when they speak different languages, love is universal. A mother’s love for her baby grows in her heart like a womb, and they give each other life. Continue reading
Shameful School Prank Targets Jews, Teaches Valuable Lesson
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock lately, you’re probably aware of the “Hit A Jew Day†incident that occurred a couple of weeks ago at a Parkway middle school and sparked an ongoing heated emotional discussion within the Jewish and secular communities. Whether this unfortunate act of ignorance was meant as an innocent prank or a religious attack, the Anti-Defamation League took it seriously and so did the local and national media, which wasted no time reporting the controversial event. Even as anti-Semitism is supposedly on the rise during difficult economic times, this widespread concern about a group of six graders singling out Jewish students during an unofficial “spirit week†represents the growing acceptance of zero tolerance in our society. The instigators were immediately suspended, and the bystanders who knew what was going on and didn’t report the problem to administrators were disciplined as well. This blatant insult to Jewish students wasn’t ignored. Everyone learned a critical lesson, hopefully. Continue reading