What to give, when to give, how to give—or whether to give at all My mother is the perfect Bubby. Although my children are growing up 6,000 miles away from her, she never fails to express her love to them, whether through little gifts she sends, attention she doles out over the phone, and, of…
inspiration
Turn Kislev into Your Own Personal Time for Miracles
The month of Kislev is an auspicious time for miracles. You can make a miracle happen for you. We heard this segulah from both Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi and Rabbi Alon Anava, and we thought it was so special that we had to share. It’s not the typical segulah that calls for an action that we might not…
Before You Complain About Your Kids…Read This
Infertility taught something very important to this new mom. By Shevy Levine ` I wish I could say, See the miracle within, I don’t think you can grasp, The gift you’ve been given… It’s been a while since I penned those words and I can’t recall which expecting woman inspired them. The poem…
Through Infertility, Adoption; Divorce, and Custody Battles: Meet Three Unconventional Jewish Moms Doing Their Best
Motherhood: It’s not always what you expect. For these three women, it’s been an uphill road, but they’ve braved the challenges. Motherhood is a beautiful thing. And it seems like such a natural process. But sometimes it’s not the straightforward, simple road we all expect to drive. Sometimes motherhood starts in unexpected ways, and…
How I Learned to Be Grateful for 100 Things Every Day
When you learn to be grateful, you also learn to be happy. By Carol Ungar The fitness cognoscenti famously claim that an early morning brisk walk gets the day off to a great start. But, when I started my day that way, I felt guilty. I loved the feeling of moving through the brisk…
3 Reasons to Smile
While working on my latest book about smiles, I learned a thing or two about turning that frown upside down. By Sarah Massry, M.S. ED I learned to count the blessings in my life While my sister and I were working on A Smile is Catchy, we consulted with a veteran principal. After reading…
What Are the Three Things That Kids Need the Most?
Fill your children up with love, respect, and security. Sounds too simple? Read on. By Shiffy Friedman, MSW I was once asked to answer the question, “What’s the best parenting advice you ever got?” by a fellow writer who was compiling an article on the topic. Here’s an excerpt of the response I gave: “The…
Can Anxiety Disorders and Emunah Co-Exist?
Meet Bari Mitzmann, and hear her incredible story, about how she views her disorder and how it strengthens her emunah. By Bari Mitzmann My name is Bari Mitzmann, and I have an anxiety disorder. I have always been a high-strung overachiever. I got stuff done, was always on time, and pushed myself to the…
4 Things to Be Thinking About When the Shofar Blows
We hear the sounds, and we look down, trying to concentrate. But what should we be thinking about during tekias shofar? By Shiffy Friedman The children are busy with their snacks and the baby has thankfully drifted off. As the shuffle on the men’s side quiets down and the ba’al tokeiah readies himself to blow…
You’re Never Too Old for Mommy and Me ( + 3 Ways to Strengthen the Mother-Daughter Bond)
Don’t have the relationship with your mother that you crave? You can still get it—and even nurture yourself when she’s no longer here By Shiffy Friedman, MSW Every human being, especially every woman, has an inherent need for a deep, fulfilling relationship with her very first primary caregiver, her mother. While some may admit it…