HOME & FAMILY

Leah Avrahami cast wondering eyes on the girls in front of her:

"So why didn't you come to ask?"

The question hung for several seconds in the small room. Larissa didn't hurry to respond, while Esther stubbornly played with her braid. Leah motioned for them to sit and they did so silently, slightly embarrassed. Suddenly she had a new idea.

Pain-Free Dentistry: A Gift from Hashem
By Rina Feld

"No one should have to suffer dental pain in the 21st century" — Dr. Dina Idelitz, root canal specialist at KJJ Dental Office and professor at Hadassah University School of Dentistry.

Another Cup of Coffee
By B.Navon

R' Shabsai Frankel's office was abuzz with excitement. At last, after years of time and effort, and after investing thousands of dollars, there was, on the table; the precious, antique scroll of parchment, in its entirety.

For Whom the Cock Crows

By Rosally Saltsman

If our great rabbis could learn lessons from shoemakers working late at night, and so on, we can also learn from Rosally's insight on roosters crowing early in the morning.

ASK THE SHADCHAN
Self-knowledge
By Rebbetzin Nomi Travis

Stop and Think

Two frum counselors wrote: "I am often asked at workshops, `What is the most important thing that I need to know before I start dating for marriage?' Most people expect to hear, "Look for someone with a good heart," or "Always look your best -- you never know who is watching you," or even "Find someone with a good family background." They are usually surprised by our answer.

14 Things You Might Want to Know About Milk!
By Dr. Reuven Bruner, Ph.D.

1. Milk is the ideal post-workout food. It has literally the perfect combination of amino acids for rebuilding new muscle cells and repairing muscle damage after a workout.

POET'S CORNER
Winter, winter, winter, and a touch of post-Tu Bishvat spring in the air

The Flu
By Shaindel Bulman

Kerchew!

I say to you

You flu

Go fly

Don't try

To make me cry

Or sneeze

Or wheeze

Or cough

I've had enough

Now I'll get tough

One good blow

And then you'll know

We're through

So please -- skidoo!

Moment

by Ruth Lewis

An old lady
In a long, black coat,
Collar turned up against the chill,
Bent, huddled, on a Shabbos morning,
Trudges home from shul.

She sees two little girls,
In velvet Shabbos robes.
Cheeks rosy in the brisk wintry air,
The girls join hands, and, laughing merrily,
Skip up and down the street.

For a moment, something leaps within her,
For a moment, she wants to join hands with them,
To throw off the long, black coat, the years,
To laugh merrily, to skip with them,
Up and down the street.

They'd freeze, of course.
They'd gawk at such a spectacle.
The moment passes -- but she is glad of it -
As, bent and huddled, she trudges on . . .

Tziporah asks:

What could be wrong about asking for so much rain that even our dry Arab neighbors would have enough without haggling over water rights? Even our Patriarchs struggled with this problem, digging and re-digging wells to ensure that there would be enough water to last the year.

Let us pray harder and worry less about international pressure

The Winter

by Tziporah Zien

Welcome clouds of gray and black with wispy white protusions,
Streaming smoothly, high above our heads in huddled profusion.

Though light and misty soft, these floats, they hide a heavy burden,
For when they spill, the rains commence a strong and swift dispersion.

A drenching rain and soaking is the best we could expect,
Its gushing dares the massive hills to block it on its way,
Unless the landscape levels, water flows down towards the bay.

Strata-wise, it penetrates the gravel, clay and dirt,
Then, filtered, hurries on to cause the bubbly springs to squirt.

The seeds which, with the autumn winds find crevices to hide,
Will swell and germinate as rain unlocks the life inside.

Most patient, staunch perennials will drink to quench the thirst
Which summer's long, relentless sun so steadily coerced.

Those who spend dry seasons on this holy, ancient soil,
Will feel relief as torrents drape the hills with dripping voile.

The changing weather vents itself in every cooling breeze,
Which makes precipitation pitter-patter in the trees.

Creation is revivified with every drop that falls,
And man is given merit if, for rain on earth, he calls.

So open wide your mouths, dear friends, to pray for rain and snow!
May Heaven grant a wet new growing year and earth with good bestow.

Reminders of Your Abundant Goodness

by Ziporah Zien

We waited so impatiently to see
The tips of leaves just peeking out of soil.
The dirt was damp, the little plot was free,
We spent our days in fear our seeds would spoil.

The neighbors watched, amused, as we would fuss.
They wondered why we watered barren ground.
But we knew buried seeds depend on us
To keep the faith until the shoots abound.

A week or so it took until we spotted
A bed of speckled greenery, emerged!
And soon enough, our seedlings were all dotted
With charming flowers, colored and diverse!

Our bit of sweat and care did bring reward,
May Heaven's praise and man's deeds find accord.