Eight unrelated things about our Chanukah so far: Two of my teens went to the Bible Contest for adults, while the rest of us listened on the radio. My husband didn't like the fact that the answers assumed that King Solomon wrote all of Mishlei (Proverbs), when the verse in question (30:8) is … [Read more...]
How Teens (and Parents) Are Like a River
December 7, 2010 by
I recently came across Haim Ginott's classic, Between Parent and Teenager. Published in 1969, his examples often relate to hippie teens and "square" parents but the principles remain the same. In his chapter on criticism, Ginott explains the long-term damage parents can cause by assigning negative … [Read more...]
Whatever Floats Your Wick: Chanukah Translation Confusion
December 5, 2010 by
We use floating wicks to light our Chanukah menorahs. Made of thin cork with aluminum foil glued on one side, they come with stiff wicks that get threaded through a hole in the stopper. We always run out of wicks before stoppers. But I digress. Some stoppers are round and some are hexagonal. You put … [Read more...]
Fire Rages in Carmel, PM Says “We Have Never Experienced a Disaster Like This”
December 2, 2010 by
I'm listening to the radio. A huge fire is raging in the Carmel forest, near Haifa. Nearly everyone from Kibbutz Beit Oren was evacuated, and only a few of the buildings are left. The fire is spreading in all directions. The kibbutzim of Ein Hud, Ein Oz and Nir Etzion have received orders to … [Read more...]
Fun and Frugal Family Games for Your Chanukah Party
December 2, 2010 by
My family hosts the annual Chanukah party for my husband’s siblings and their children. Aside from frantically cleaning the house, I’m planning a short program. Almost everyone likes to play games, and they are a fun way to get to know my nieces and nephews. It’s not so easy to find a good party … [Read more...]
Haredi Fashion Photography
November 30, 2010 by
Ynet has an article about the newest trend in fashion photography: Haredi models and styles. The article contains a video interview with the first professional haredi fashion photographer, Shprintzi Friedman. I was struck by the length of the skirt worn in the right-hand photo. Since when does … [Read more...]
Tipat Chalav Finally Adopts Growth Charts Based on Breastfed Babies
November 29, 2010 by
In 2006 the World Health Organization published growth charts based solely on breastfed babies who received solids at age 4 to 6 months. The Israeli health ministry has finally gotten around to providing them to Tipat Chalav, Israel's well-baby clinics. The babies measured for the new charts were … [Read more...]
Making Aliyah Mid-Year with Kids
November 28, 2010 by
I received this question from TYm: My family is planning to make aliyah next year in the late fall. We have two children 4 an 1 with a baby on the way. We are moving to Rehovot where I will be doing a post-doc in the sciences. We’re still not certain what my husband will have lined up. Any … [Read more...]
Friday Links: Ducks, Shopping, Fake Army Exemptions, and Cosmetic Surgery among Haredim
November 26, 2010 by
My teenage daughter helped my son prepare this bird model for his school project on feathers. Some links for your perusal: The chief rabbis have called a second day of fasting and prayer for rain: In light of the continuing drought in Israel, Chief Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Yonah Metzger have … [Read more...]
In Which I Meet and Talk with the Mom of a Remedia Baby
November 24, 2010 by
I was talking with the mother of my daughter's friend the other day. It turns out that her daughter drank Remedia soy formula from the age of 3 to 6 months in 2003, until she learned that the formula lacked Vitamin B1. In the video I describe how the mother chose that particular formula, and the … [Read more...]
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