HOME & FAMILY

It was almost midnight. Sara let herself into the dark house silently, threw herself onto her bed and sobbed uncontrollably, but silently, into her pillow. What had she done? She had given her three-month-old baby to a neighbor, together with a fortune in money and jewels, and begged her to look after her till the end of the war, till she came back for her.

Returning a Lost Object
by Z. Shlanger

Are we not, in some sense, lost objects, hoping to refind- redefine ourselves on the Yomim Noroim, with the help of the Keeper?

A Rosh Hashonah `Dunking'
by Tzippy Wolner

Shalom banged the receiver back on the hook.

"Stupid," he muttered. "Stupid life."

He kicked the garbage can, then a wooden chair, and stormed out of the lobby.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Re: "Hidden Secrets" and the final letter we will be printing on the subject. [If you recall, this related to a woman who discovers her new husband is taking medication. Some of our readers maintained she should make the best of the situation, after coming to terms with the deception, that is, the withholding of that information.]

LIFE JOURNEYS: LESSONS FROM THE HEART
by Sara Gutfreund

Like a Passing Shadow

All year he had driven past the cemetery on the way to work without even a glance. But suddenly, as Yom Kippur drew closer, he began to notice the tombstones, lined up in silent rows against the morning sky. And then one morning, the thought cascaded down upon him like an unexpected downpour of rain.

MODERN DAY MESHOLIM AND MUSSAR
The Seal of Approval
by Bayla Gimmel

here is an American (read: secular) folk expression that goes, "If all of our troubles were strung on a line, you would take yours and I would take mine."

New Year's Resolutions
by Rosally Saltsman

Should and could and would and will and shall and not shilly- shall

Bubbies with Babies
By Yonina Hall

Part I

Many years ago, when Leah first became a Bubby, she offered to babysit her infant grandchildren a few days a week. Her macheteniste was incredulous. "I would never babysit my grandchildren," she told Leah. "I raised my own; let them raise theirs."

Ovinu Malkeinu
by Dalia T.

It's Rosh Hashonoh once again. The singing once again stirs the soul, moves one to tears, and floods the memory. All the beautiful melodies! All reaching deep inside our souls and touching responsive chords. The familiar tune of the Rosh Hashonoh Kaddish. And then the keynote: Ovinu Malkeinu - - Our Father, Our King!

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

I would like to speak about some of Rosh Hashonoh's traditional foods.

Apples are high in fiber and a good source of iron. Their juice however, is usually strained, so the fiber is lost. Furthermore, apple juice contains indigestible sugars which often cause looser stool, so it is not a good choice for children with diarrhea.

POETS' CORNER

A medieval poetry scheme (look for the rhyming, the repetition etc.) with a lovely cadence

Pigeons' Terzanelle
by Ruth Fogelman

Poking out from crevices, pigeons preen at the Wall,
Twisting their heads and pecking a wing.
Are they oblivious to the Shofar's call?

While her mother stands by her side, praying,
A child looks up in delight as the birds
Twist their heads and peck a wing.

After the Shofar's blast, the words,
"G-d is my Light . . . " echo through the air
The child looks up in delight as the birds

Turn in circles on the ledge; she drops her teddy-bear
Underneath her mother's seat as the sound
Of "G-d is my Light" echoes through the air.

Like a kitten, the child sits on the ground,
Half-hidden, beyond time
Underneath her mother's seat, as the sound

Of bells chime,
And poking out from crevices, pigeons preen at the Wall,
Half-hidden, beyond time -

Are they oblivious to the Shofar's call?

[CHALLAH

by Hinde Gordon

When I was a child, I wore starched dresses and white gloves.
I played and my dresses got dirty, but not my hands.
When I grew up, I got married and planted flowers, wearing gardening gloves.
The gloves got dirty, but not my hands.

When I grew older, I became a Bubby.
In Yerushalyim, my friend taught me to make challah for Shabbos and Yom Tov,
Not with a mixer but with my hands.

Now I mix and knead the wonderful dough.
My hands get sticky and floury doing the mitzvah that Hashem intends them to do
My hands are clean, filled with light and joy, and so is my heart.

When I was a child, I learned to speak English.
With proper grammar, I spoke with politeness and precision.
When I grew up, I learned about injustice, oppression, wars.
With the language of the streets as my weapon, I used my mouth to fight the unfairness.

Now, as a Bubby, separating challah, I use my mouth as Hashem intended:
To ask Him to accept the challah as a `burnt- offering',
To nourish me and my family in holiness,
To cleanse me from sin,

To guard us all from sorrow and pain.
Now as I use my mouth to say the blessing
And my hands to separate the challah from the dough.
I am content.
I am at peace.
I am clean.
Thank you, Hashem.

And another "Thank You Hashem" by same author:

Thank You, Hashem

by Hinde Gordon

For Your test, the opportunity to learn through suffering, What I could not learn without suffering.
To look for the person, the essence, not the externals:
Face, clothing, credentials, stature, profession, demeanor.
To give the benefit of the doubt, not to judge another Jew,
For judgment is Your job, not mine.

To be always vigilant, guarding my mouth,
That my words are what You would have me say.
That my ears hear only what You would want me to hear.
To be able to say, "Sorry, stop! I think we're sliding into murky waters."

To be happy in trying times, knowing that You are with me even if I can't see You,
Knowing that You alone are carrying, holding, comforting me.
To say, "Thank You, Hashem" and mean it,
Even though the test is hard and I don't want to be tested.
To seek You when I feel You are far away and I am lonely and in pain.
To ask You to help me get through the test,
To beg You to bless me to grow through the test.
To appreciate Your gifts so freely given:
Torah, family, friends, teachers, home,
Opening my eyes and getting out of bed,
Sipping a glass of warm tea with milk,
Reveling in Your wondrous world,
Living and loving and growing.
Thank you, Hashem.