HOME & FAMILY

Part II

Synopsis: Immediately after the shiva for his wife, Reb Chanoch found himself the object of pity on the part of his next-door neighbors, the Groners, who took it upon themselves, despite his futile protests, to supply him with his main hot meal each day.

LETTERS, FEEDBACK, EITZES

This letter refers to "Double Check" from Parshas Vayetzei, about checking bills. Mrs. Sherlock Home-Phone...

How are YOUR Revolutions Per Minute?
by H. Abramov

Some grayish reflections upon change and our resistance to it, as evoked by the purchase of a new washing machine. Perhaps because WE don't want to be traded in, either?

Tomer Wants to Pray
by Boruch Lev

Translated with permission from the author of "Nifl'osov Livnei Odom" vol. II, Stories of hashgocha from our times, stories of midos taken from the lives of everyday Jews.

This is a true teshuva story about a piece of paper, a ticket to a receptive heart.

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

I hope after last week's article you appreciate how important one's kidneys are. To review, they filter out dissolvable poisons from the body, make sure that the acid- base balance in the body is where it should be; they stimulate the creation of red blood cells; they control the amount of fluid in our body and, as a result, influence the blood pressure as well, and they stabilize the balance of the salts in our body.

Poet's Corner

You Name It

by Rifca Goldberg

When everything that could possibly go wrong, goes wrong. To laugh? To cry? To dig deeper and find the strength for a true perspective on daily tribulations.

Sunday, I turned on the washer. It refused to spin out and spat water from a tube as if in blunt rejection.

The next day arrived, along with the technician who said, "I'm sorry, Lady. There's no hope for its resurrection."

Then, on Friday, in the midst of baking two cakes: "Hey, the oven's not working!" I cried, nothing missing my detection.

With the cake still just batter, I looked through the cupboards to find what we'd eat without our regular Shabbos confection.

Two weeks later, after Shabbos, I opened our large freezer. Things were beginning to thaw. I felt sudden dejection.

I checked the dials and plug. It didn't work! Placed my food with kind neighbors, then ate a melave malka refection.*

As I ate in a daze, not believing this craziness, I thought of my schedule and did an inner inspection.

Did I pray with feeling? Had I been smiling to my family? For each of my mitzvos, a thorough dissection.

Is Hashem upset with me about a particular word? Did I do something nasty? I had no recollection.

I phoned my Rebbetzin and told her what was happening. "What do you think?" I asked. I pleaded for a suggestion.

She shared with me ideas on how to be more humble, grateful and content, and how to reach a true level of flextion.*

I thought long and hard, then wrote a comprehensive list on the paper in front of me. There was quite a selection!

After outlining a program for complete improvement, I sat deep in contemplation, a spiritual reflection.

Until I realized that a decree hung over our heads, but there had been NO broken bones, NO pain, NO infection.

My conclusion:

Let the freezer, oven and washing machine be wrecked, but let our family remain intact! A kind heavenly deflection.

I then thanked Hashem. I really did! Hashem's kindness is without end. Always steering us in the proper direction.

[Through thick and thin, with no exception/ Our goal -- to achieve full realization and acception/ of all forms of Heavenly interception/ in our lives, at every intersection.]

[* These are real words!]