HOME & FAMILY

"Windows, my dear, that's what it's all about." she said. "It's a crime to raise children like this. What a narrow picture you are giving them. It's a beautiful universe we are living in, with so much to learn, so much to enjoy. And these poor dears . . . " her sweeping hand gesture took in all seven children at once, " . . . are in the dark, they know nothing of the arts, literature, even science. You are stifling them. Throw open the windows on the world; let them see the scenery each affords."

Another Shidduch?
by Dahlia T.

When I was first on my own again, many years ago — and for many years — I was given much "helpful" advice from those who knew best: shadchanim and the re-married, and sometimes even close family and friends. Generally, at my age . . . they wanted me to be realistic, with lowered expectations of re-marrying, to cushion the blow of not re- marrying, to "grab" whoever might want to marry me since it would not do to be "picky."

Of These I Weep
By Bas Melech

No, this is NOT [only] a belated Tisha B'Av story, just a story to wake you and walk you into Elul

MODERN DAY MESHOLIM AND MUSSAR
Potshots

By Bayla Gimmel

When we were living in California, there was one non-Jewish family on our block that had two teenagers who could be classified as juvenile delinquents. When these little darlings had nothing better to do with their time, they would take their BB guns and shoot at car windows and the windows of local houses.

Good Morning
by A. Ross

Yanky, Moishie, get up, it's terribly late. Channa, Miriam, Esther, you'll miss the school bus. No, not another five minutes. Get up NOW.

Exercising Brains
by L. Raffles

We all know that we walk with our legs, hear with our ears, and see with our eyes. But what really is happening is that information from the five senses (eyes, ears, mouth, nose and skin) goes to the brain. The brain receives and interprets the information and sends messages through our nervous system to our muscles to make our limbs work. So exercises to improve balance are really exercises on the brain.

Word Processor
By Adina Hershberg

An Elul lesson in processing the spoken word.

A Dozen Foods to Grow On!
by Dr. Reuven Bruner, Ph.D.

Keep in mind that eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, especially those with deep colors, gives you the most health protection.

POET'S CORNER

Today
by Sara Gutfreund

Today my three-year-old broke her own Lego building
My husband asked: Why did you do that?
She said: Abba, because the Beis Hamikdash is broken

Today my five-year-old clutched her doll and whispered to
me
Ima, don't tell anyone he's not a real baby

Today I thought that the children understand, they know
The brokenness of the past
The fine line between illusion and reality

Today, I asked Him to let me go back in time
And fix what is shattered, what is false
To let me undo my mistakes
To let me change yesterday

No
He said
You need to start with Today