One of my very favorite books is Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace, set in 1912 Minnesota. Emily has just graduated from high school, and unlike all her college-bound friends, she is staying home to care for her grandfather who raised her. As fall turns to winter, Emily is depressed and lonely. She feels stuck, watching everyone else …
Recently I asked a friend to contact someone we both know and find out if he’d go out with me. It was a reach, and he said no. I was definitely very disappointed. But instead of being hard on myself for putting myself out there, I remembered the famous Wayne Gretzky line: “You miss one hundred percent of the shots …
This summer I turned thirty. A few weeks before my birthday, I started thinking about what I wanted to do to recognize the occasion…I thought it would be nice to learn something and give it over, and though I did not have time to give a formal shiur, I want to share it with you. The Mishnah in Pirkei …
Hello, all. Please fill out my 60-second questionnaire! Thanks! Everything about shidduchim takes SO LONG. Phone tag, waiting to hear back from people, should-I-shouldn’t-I-follow-up… “He’s busy, he has to get back to me, call me next week, text me a reminder, I’m going out of town, I’m making a wedding, they’re making a wedding, I didn’t hear from …
Hi all, here is a link to a brief questionnaire about my blog as we head towards 5783! If you can take a moment (really, this should take 60 seconds) to complete it, that would be terrific. As always, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of you for coming and reading my writing! Thank …
Hello, all. For fun, I compiled a list of advice for post-seminary life for anyone who may find this interesting or helpful. (I consider the post-sem stage to be loosely the first three-four years after high school or seminary. Adjust definition as you see fit). Feel free to add your own! Find mentors and mentor material. In real …
Hard to believe we are at another Elul. The Artscroll commentary on Tehillim Perek 27 (l’Dovid Hashem Ori) points out that the word “sukko,” His shelter, is actually written “sukkah,” more generally, shelter. Rav Avraham Chaim Feuer writes that Dovid Hamelech is saying, “At times when I was in distress and danger, shelter appeared for me seemingly of its own …
The other day I made a mouthwatering list of foods I want to eat on Yom Tov. I may or may not make any of these but you know how I like to plan imaginary Y”T menus and all.
Erev Shabbos Nachamu was my second challahversary. In my journal I wrote about what I learned from two years of challah baking. Challah baking taught me how to be flexible and work my schedule to accommodate challah week after week. It showed me how efficient and competent I can be and feel, being able to work challah into my …
Yesterday I had an appointment in middle of the afternoon so I took the rest of the day off. I knew what I wanted to do with the time off — go uptown to Conservatory Garden in Central Park. So I started off my lunch break walking from my office in Chelsea to Patis Times Square. A long walk but …
