As I type this, the winner of the 2020 US Presidential is still unknown, and there is no clear indication of when that will change. Both sides are accusing the other of not playing fairly. Both sides have spoken of their certainty that they will prevail. If the divisiveness leading up to the election wasn’t bad enough, […]

This past Sunday, I drove to Manhattan to pick up my mom so she could spend the week with us in suburban New Jersey. During that drive, it became very clear, very quickly, where this presidential campaign has taken us. First, Trump supporters shut down one of the bridges leading into the city. Then, I […]

For The First Time Ever, Stockholm Has a Swedish-born Rabbi The rabbis who come to work in Stockholm usually speak very little Swedish and are unfamiliar with Swedish culture. That’s because the Jewish community in Sweden — around 15,000 people out of the country’s total population of 10 million — is small enough that they […]

I recently received an e-mail from a man who saw my “What to Wear on My Hair” video and wanted to know if my husband keeps his hair “special” and “saves it just for me.” Now I’m sure this guy was just trying to give me a hard time, but he actually raised an interesting […]

I perch my son on the counter. I spritz some mousse onto his peyos, and holding it, deftly twist it into a perfect curl.  It’s his first day of cheder (pre-school), and I’m so emotional.  I insert a crisp bill into the tzedakah box, and with tears sparkling on my lashes I pray. “Please, Hashem help […]

Several years ago, I had a very unpleasant exchange on Facebook with a man I didn’t know. He told me that I have Stockholm Syndrome because I’m an Orthodox Jewish woman. Besides the fact that I chose this life (and continue to choose it everyday), I was disgusted that this stranger mansplained to me how I ought […]