Independently Happy

Happy Rosh Chodesh Adar! Mishenichnas Adar marbim b’simcha – so let’s discuss simcha.   This is a topic that comes up rather often on the blog, as it’s something that can be a struggle for anyone going through a nisayon (and not just shidduchim, obviously!).   Recently, two married friends told me, separately, that the number one best thing I …

The Happiness Choice: For Singles Only?

I wanted to respond to an essay that appeared in the Purim edition of the Binah. (Okay, I really started this blog to respond to “singlehood” articles printed in frum publications. Sort of kidding, sort of not.)   The essay (“Making The Choice”) by Devorah Schick is written from the perspective of an older sister to Tehila, who is single …

Purim In A Grown-Up House

Over the past six or seven years, as my family grew up, Purim in my house changed. It became quieter, more orderly and peaceful. There’s no preschool megillah of Esky Cook illustrations strung across the dining room doorway, no smiling Queen Esther and scowling Haman gazing at the proceedings. (Apparently this really dates us.) There are no cap-guns and pop-snappers …

An Inspiring Shiur For Adar

I just listened to an interesting shiur about Parshas Shekalim by Mrs. Shira Smiles (free registration on Naaleh required for access to the entire shiur). I really enjoy Mrs. Smiles’s shiurim. Her style is a combination of intellectual and inspirational; she usually teaches a deeper understanding of the mitzvos with lots of textual sources (source sheets available in the Naaleh sidebar).   Here …

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