HOME & FAMILY

Adina gritted her teeth as she looked at the back brace sitting on a chair in the corner of her room. That's right, sitting. It seemed to her that the brace was sneering back at her. The hard, white plastic and leather straps were bad enough, but the symmetry of the brace was a constant reminder of her own difference from the rest of her class at a time when being `normal' and like all of her friends was so crucial.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
Background to Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
by R' Zvi Zobin

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is a part of the British National Health Service. Its purpose is to provide practical guidance for the NHS and patients on medicines, medical equipment, diagnostic tests and clinical and surgical procedure, and where and how they should be used.

Shidduchim and the `Singles' Issue
by K.S.R.

The year before last, I think, was declared The Year of Shidduchim, when a spotlight was aimed at the problem of the increasing numbers of older singles,. Everyone was urged to make at least one successful shidduch.

Well, the problem is as urgent as ever.

School Phobia
by A. Ross M.Ed.

An irrational fear of going to school is often termed `school phobia.' About one percent of children both in the United States and in England suffer from this phobia which occurs usually between the ages of seven and twelve. In Israel, there are no statistics about this, but in religious circles, it seems to be considerably less.

It's About Time
by Rosally Saltsman

I was asked to write this by someone. The only reason I'm prefacing this article with that statement is because I'm about to talk about one of my greatest pet peeves and I wanted you all to know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Your Medical Questions Answered!
by Joseph B. Leibman, MD

Let's start a new series. It is not a very interesting subject, but oh so common. Head injuries are very common and proper research has not been done in order to give us enough guidance on the subject.

Poet's Corner

Ani L'Dodi
by Michelle Borinstein

There's a tension in the air.
An electric force
Currents surging
Crackling, Sizzling.
Hidden power.

The animal world senses it.
Anticipation fills the air
Muzzles uplifted
Ears upright
All eyes bright
They sniff, searching.

The plant world absorbs it.
Heavy stillness fills the air
Fruit clusters hang heavy
Dry earth clumps together
Flowers lift bowed heads
Waiting, wondering.

The human world is sensing it.
Uncertainty fills the air
Unfathomable emotion
Unnamed force
Unseen source
Expectation
Trepidation.

Like newborn foal
On unsteady legs
Race to the fields
He awaits you
With open arms.

The King
Reunited
With His beloved child --
You