HOME & FAMILY

Rebbetzin Baksht called out, "What happened?" as she entered her sitting room. On the floor lay R' Yechiel Michel Gordon, their esteemed guest, the eminent Lomze Rosh Yeshiva. Her husband, R' Baksht, was kneeling beside the fainting rabbi and was trying to listen to his heartbeat.

MODERN DAY MESHOLIM AND MUSSAR
Better to Do Without
By Bayla Gimmel

A friend once told me that during the 1970s, her husband took a teaching position in an outreach oriented day school somewhere in the American Southeast.

BOOK REVIEW
The Other Side of the Coin
by Rabbi Chaim Orange
Reviewed by Yonina Hall

Knock, knock.

If you live in a religious neighborhood, you'll probably hear the sound of the tzedokoh collector at your door a few times a night. It's well known that b'nei Torah give tzedokoh well out of proportion to their modest incomes. Many a wedding and hospital bill have been paid from the pooled donations of thousands of small contributors.

The Big Win

By Risa Rotman

In my family, we were never very lucky with lotteries. Once, my husband gave me a large sum to spend at a Chinese Auction for tzedaka. I may have had the most tickets among the ladies participating. but did I come home with a fabulous prize? No, just a fabulous headache...and a mitzva.

ASK THE SHADCHAN
Taking No for an Answer When the Shidduch Doesn't Work Out . . .
By Rebbetzen Nomi Travis

Question: "I'm considered an older girl. All my classmates are married. I've been dating for many years . . . They often criticize me for being too picky and are very disappointed when for one reason or another their suggestions don't work out. I feel criticized, put down, judged . . . "

KITCHEN HINTS:
By Happy Klein

You probably know this already, but... Have You Heard . . . ?

LETTERS, FEEDBACK

In response to the person who responded concerning the article about gift ideas for married children: They wrote: "However, please understand that once you start, it is even more difficult to not buy gifts for them."

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

I was sent an article about the Heimlich maneuver. This is used for people who are choking, and it can be lifesaving, but it can also be dangerous if not done right. Therefore, I repeat my view that people should all take a course to learn it.

POET'S CORNER
In Shevat, still mourning, still longing through the long winter's golus . . .

Retaining Wall
by Tzipora Zien
This ancient wall at which we, who revere
One living Deity, will congregate,
Still stands and beckons folk from far and near
To sense how earthly souls to Him relate,
Its shade has sanctioned all our woes to date.

What dreams this one location has inspired
To feed the starving psyches of mankind!
The goals to which our Patriarchs aspired
Require much more than, weak, as they're aligned,
Our latter troops are willing to divine.

Retaining walls today are built to hold
Erosion back from decimating hills,
What this wall does retain remains untold,
As foreign kings and stranger powers still
Would vie to wrest the title of its tills.

Though well known stories faithful prophets render:
Of angels wafting ever up and down,
Of blades both raised, then lowered in surrender,
Of kings and brothers, from that age renowned,
When jingling gems on priestly hems were found:

Impossible it is to tell at length
The secrets written on those simple scraps,
Which, jammed between the stones, have tried its strength,
The troubles of each generations' traps,
Whose springs were set to rectify each lapse.

The faithful come, in stark stones to confide,
They wail, for sin or trouble makes them grieve.
Does rock absorb or with their prayer collide?
What must be done in order to retrieve
That final, swift and well deserved reprieve?

Impatient for that time, hewn boulders fall,
We come to pray, to mark that sacred spot
Beyond the wall, where Avrohom once stalled
To purposely determine if his lot
Should be to sacrifice his son or not.

This sweet location harbors holy heirs
And tempt them to forget both time and place.
Transcending mortal boundaries and cares,
One witnesses uniquely holy space,
Cross-sectioning each era's interface.

We find ourselves thus feeling how the breeze
Did strafe the cheek of Yitzchok, bound and tied,
We hear the praises of the hosts' decrees
As up and down this great celestial slide
They take their leave and rush back to our side.

The sight of sacrificial smoke's ascent;
The din of pilgrims, bringing lambs to share,
The water-drawers annual descent,
The sound of Levites singing on the stair,
All agitate together in this sphere.

For just one moment, linger and imbibe
Ethereal and pure imagination!
Your prayers and supplications will now rise
In that one, never-ending constellation
Which bridges Him to us, His Jewish nation.

Our sweet petition bridges the divide,
The stories we have heard, we now can feel,
This column which ascends, pulls us inside
To witness clear the Patriarchs' fresh zeal,
And grants wings to our personal appeals!

And so, we take position as on cue,
To touch, to kiss and cry at our wall,
Its presence gives us courage to pursue
Our chosen way of life. Let's heed the call,
Which emanates from thence to chasten all.

Longing

By Nechama Emett

A dull ache of constant suffering
There are no words on my tongue
Nor on the page
Just silent grief
A gaping mouth
Dry eyes that can cry no more
Tears trapped behind a barricade.

When will You return?
When will You stand in full glory and open up the gates?

I long for You
I crave Your comfort
The sanctuary of Your walls
My nostrils await the smell of incense
My ears, the songs of praise.

Rise up and build it
A palace to You, our King . . .