It seems like summer has just begun and suddenly, the Three Weeks are upon us. It can be hard to remember that we are in the mourning period every day of these three weeks, so here is a calendar of suggestions that can help you stay focused, even for just a brief moment every day….
Making Your Summer Meaningful
In five mindful minutes a day Summer vacation is officially upon us, at least for the girls. The kids think they’re the only ones celebrating, but I think I speak for many parents when I say that as much as we cherish our incredible schools and all they do for our children, we are also…
Top Ten Test-Taking Tips
The lessons and skills that you gain from the process of studying for Finals goes way beyond mastering the material. (Print this!) The end of the year is just around the corner, and if you are blessed with older kids, there is something else that comes first: finals! As I write this, we have begun…
Not Just a Blip – Pesach Sheini is a Significant Day
These are five powerful life lessons of Pesach Sheini. Don’t let it just pass by! Pesach Sheini is a holiday that tends not to warrant much attention; often we don’t even remember until just before shkiah. “Oh right, it’s Pesach Sheini! Quick, let’s wash and have some matzah.” And yet, there is so much to…
The Shabbos After Purim
You have an extra day to reflect and bring the lessons of Purim home. This is a good start. As if Purim isn’t a short enough day, packed as it is with so much to do and not a second to spare, this year poses the additional challenge of an even shorter day. I don’t…
How to Keep the Lights of Chanukah Burning
Yes, we can keep the inspiration that lifts us up over Chanukah along with us in the months ahead. As you read this, I hope you are enjoying a beautiful and meaningful Chanukah, full of light and love and laughter, strengthened in your emunah, in your family bonds, and in your appreciation for the miracles…
We’re Commanded to Be Joyful on Sukkos. How Do We Attain It?
We search for things to make us happy, but sometimes it’s elusive. These are the true sources of joy and how to really find that happiness this Yom Tov. On Wings of JoyAttaining True Joy on the Zeman Simchaseinu Sukkos is a holiday dedicated to mastering joy. We are commanded in the Torah explicitly, “V’samachta…
Rosh Hashanah Strategies to Unlock the Shefa and Bring the Brachah
7 ways to accomplish what Hashem wants from us this Rosh Hashanah. As the sun sets on the past year, a sense of awe and trepidation fills our hearts. We know that this is the moment that Hashem passes each of us under His staff and determines our fate for the coming year. It’s frightening…
Helping Our Children Be Happy with Less
How to step off the hamster wheel and live life as it is. It seems that wherever we look, we find people who have more than us. Especially if we ask our children. It’s tough raising them in today’s indulgent climate where everyone seems to have the latest of everything, and if we don’t give…
How Do We Feel the Pain of Galus When We Live So Well?
Al Eileh Ani Bochiayah – A guide to how you can channel the pain of galus on Tisha B’Av and Beyond Tisha B’av is a rough day, no doubt about it. Between the heat, the length, the limited distractions, and the severity of it in terms of getting a heter not to fast, it is probably…