My son hit another kid. I’ve been waiting for this challenge for a while. I’ve been curious as to how I would react. My brother has three little boys, all deeply rooted in Israeli-Chareidi society where boys communicate physically with one another before they get down to verbalization. (This is in no way a judgmental … Continue reading Mommy and Me
Six Years
It’s been…six years…filled with love…joy…happiness…hardships…and longing…for you. My happily-ever-after…standing before the lights…watching the flames dance…to the beat of the perfect little life inside me…died with the last lick of fire…and left a hole…where you used to be. The day you broke away approaches… I am not ready…to face the dark memories…the images of you…slipping into … Continue reading Six Years
Oh The Places I’ve Come From
“Cleveland, Cleveland, convention in Cleveland….Convention ‘97 will last forever……” Ringing in my ears as an unwanted memory, the BY Convention song my mother wrote fourteen years ago plays in my head like a broken record. I guess she got it right - about it lasting forever and ever and ever…but how I wish it would … Continue reading Oh The Places I’ve Come From
Oh Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel…
When I was in kindergarten I colored a dreidel. To me, it was just another shape outlined in thick black ink that I was meant to color in with whatever crayons I chose. To my teacher, who happened to be an artist, it was amazing. My mother worked in the school so the teacher ran … Continue reading Oh Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel…
The Meaning Of Mumcha
"There should be a movie about it. With characters like Motti, Duvy…Shmully…not Chasidish, no Joels - just real Boro Park Yeshivish kids." I nod. I'ver heard this before. "We were punks. I don't get it. What was wrong with us?" "It wasn't that bad. There weren't turf wars or crack houses." "Yeah - but we … Continue reading The Meaning Of Mumcha
Colloquially Speaking 