HOME & FAMILY

Continuing a series we presented some time back.

A picture that takes pride of place in many homes is the family wedding portrait. Rows of fathers, mothers, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters and cousins pose elegantly on either side of the chosson and kalla. Especially charming are the small children seated along the bottom row, smartly dressed in their three- piece suits and party dresses.

Pesach Revisited
by Rivka Glick

Close your eyes gently, Ruth's soothing, hypnotic voice directs. All of us, sitting around the table, comply. Ruth is leading the Writing Workshop this week; we're familiar, from past sessions, with the `meditation exercises' she dreams up.

Other People's Children
by A. Ross, M.A. Ed.

It is remarkable how often many of us are tempted to educate other people's children. Whether it is in shul or in the park, or even in our own homes, we have an irrestible urge to interfere. Furthermore, it is truly amazing how we firmly believe in our own children's blameless behavior, while criticizing the conduct of others.

LETTERS, FEEDBACK

Dear Editor,

Rabbi Zobin mentions a few `howlers' which children produce as they learn language and expressions [Pesach issue]. These amusing anecdotes surely occur in every home at some time, and it would be interesting to hear of other readers' experiences.

The Buyer
a true story by Sara Carmel (names changed)

"I'm sorry, Sara, but I can't use this story."

"Why, not? Because it's just too neat, if you know what I mean. Life isn't like that. Things don't tie in just like that."

"But this is absolutely true. It happened to my father!"

Death
by Sudy Rosengarten

It's Spring, outside, but during the Sfira, our thoughts are pulled back to death.

Ma, residing with Pa in the Vizhnitz Old Age Home in Bnei Brak, has just died, and is about to be buried in Jerusalem.

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

The bladder stores urine before it leaves the body. Sometimes we need to sample this urine or sometimes there is a block in the tract further down from a stricture or a large prostate. To drain urine we generally have two options: catheter and suprapubic aspiration. Since normal functioning kidneys make about 50 cc of urine an hour, a catheter can measure urine output and tell us if a patient has enough fluid in his body.

Food Fight -- In the Battle Against Heart Disease, these Foods Will Help
by Dr. Reuven Bruner, Ph.D.

Fact: Millions of Americans die from coronary heart disease each year, making it America's (and even Israel's) biggest killer by far. Fortunately because you exercise and also run, you're already doing a lot to fend off the disease. But there may be even more you can do, on the dietary front.

POET'S CORNER
Father and King / Far and Near / A Jewish Theory of Relativity

Far and Near
by Ruth Lewis

You are
so far --
farther than
the farthest star
there
in the most distant galaxy.
So far
I fear
I may forget
how near
You are
to me.

You are
so near.
Here.
Nearer than
the air
I'm breathing in.
You hear
my every whispered prayer,
my every thought
of good or sin.
So near, within my heart,
in all I do, hear, see.
You are
so near
I fear
I may forget
how far
You are
from me.