HOME & FAMILY

I don't know where the tradition of giving applause started but it's interesting how applause is used today. There are basically three venues where you'll hear applause: at a play or show, at the end of a lecture or at a touchdown (plane, not football). It's noteworthy that the three professions that merit applause are airline pilots, actors/musicians and speakers.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
Learning From Your Talmid
by R' Zvi Zobin

"Said Rebbi: `I learned much from my Rebbeim, more from my colleagues, but most of all, I learned from my talmidim.' "

Why Do They Fight?
by A. Ross, M.A. in Education

They're at it again. Horrendous screams, followed by shrieks, yowls, bellows, then the long wailing cry of the injured party who is determined to let the perpetrator get his just desserts. You are in a quandary. To interfere or to let them settle it on their own? Some experts express one opinion, others say the exact opposite, but what are you going to do at this particular moment in time?

Fiction or Fact?
by Shifra Yisrael

"...and Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother lived happily ever after."

With that, my sister finished her bedtime story. "Now good night and no more talking," she warned as she left the room, sparing the heroine of our story not another thought. As for me, I couldn't let it stand at that.

Beit Natan Expands Activities To Bnei Brak
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Beit Natan, a multi-operational organization that provides patient support and health education classes to chareidi and traditional women, is launching a training course in Bnei Brak. The course will train chareidi women to go out to the community at large and speak on the importance of early detection of specific women's cancer.

Chessed Bread
a story by H. Regev

The big grandfather clock gonged loudly and R' Chanoch rose from his comfortable armchair, stretching his legs as he did so, before moving down the hall. As usual, his slipper caught on the broken tile near the entrance door and he swayed slightly before catching his balance again. The familiar, expected knock sounded. R' Chanoch knew that it would immediately follow the gong and had prepared himself in advance.

CREATIVITY CORNER
Simple Finger Weaving
by Devora Piha

Spend a few pleasant afternoons indoors on a weaving project. Children become quiet and content as they concentrate and watch their doll house blanket, potholder or place mat take shape before their eyes. A bookmark, wall hanging, coin purse or a simple cloth sample are the functional results of a few hours on a corrugated board loom.

LETTERS, FEEDBACK

Rabbi Zobin writes:

In the 22 Kislev edition of Yated, A. Ross, M.Ed. responded to an article by Dr. Miriam Adahan about children being overworked in the school and cheder, especially at the lowest grades. Her response seems to sidetrack the main point of Dr. Adahan's article, based on my experience.

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

Processed food is full of chemicals. Even unprocessed food contains many substances that the body can't use and may be harmful. Bacteria are swallowed with all food, as are insecticides, and occasionally soil products, insect eggs and cleaning agents. How does the body deal with this?

Remembering the Maggid of Dubno

To the Editor:

This year the 198th yahrtzeit of the Maggid of Dubno ztvk"l zy"a (17th Teves) occurs at nightfall on the 31st of December 2001 -- a one-in-nineteen-year chance! This makes the yahrtzeit even more special because two mitzvos can be performed: that of observing the yahrtzeit and that of bringing our community closer to Yiddishkeit on an evening when, particularly for Diaspora Jews on the fringe, there is great temptation to attend other functions.

Poet's Corner

Doubly Bubble

by Ruth Lewis

Racheli, not quite two,
Is blowing bubbles.
She concentrates,
frowning, lips pursed
to form soft, careful baby puffs.

Momentarily, the bubbles cling --
squeezed, hesitant,
struggling to take shape --
to her small bubble pipe.
Then in a WOOOSH,
they spurt,
stream forth abundant.
They take f l i g h t.

Baby bubbles,
bigger bubbles
blithe, airy baubles
champagne tickly-tipsy
rainbow colored, shimmering.

Joy wells up, bubbles over,
spills dancing from her eyes
Delight spurts in laughter from baby lips
floats on the air
like bubbles.

Racheli, not quite two,
is blowing bubbles.
Wispy, dark curls bobbing;
dark eyes spilling light.

In this bubble moment,
she contemplates,
with wonder, awe,
their bouyant, bubbly beauty,
their bright grace,
their shining, delicate,
fragile perfection.

And I, hers.