I transcribed a recent conversation between me and a married friend (minimal poetic license taken) because it really helped me think about things in a new way, and maybe others will find it helpful, too: Me: So…what are you tips on not becoming cynical and jaded? Which is what I’m becoming. Her: About what? Me: About shidduchim. Nothing means …
Last week my Partner in Torah and I started the third perek of Sefer Shemos, the story of Moshe Rabbeinu at the burning bush. I keep saying this, but it really amazes me how much personal meaning I can find in the words of the pasuk and Rashi now that I am an adult. We had an amazing discussion about …
A few weeks ago, I decided to add a little feature in the sidebar of this site to showcase the books I’ve been reading. I was back and forth about whether or not to do this, for a variety of reasons (see below), but ultimately my love of book-sharing won out. Which brings me to my first dilemma as …
To be honest, although I try to stay in touch with concepts like “the shidduch crisis has no mathematical basis” or “it isn’t my fault that I’m struggling so much” or “sometimes we just have to wait for the right time” — I go through these phases when I seriously don’t believe any of the above. This rainy week was …
Yom Tov is the time for davening, divrei Torah, eating, schmoozing, catching up with friends and family, eating, reading (books over magazines, forever and always), also eating…These are a few ideas I learned or thought about over the past few weeks that I’d love to share (and all shidduchim-related in some way, but don’t worry, they’re just kind of nice, …
Two weeks ago, my Partner in Torah and I completed Sefer Bereishis with Rashi. I thought how appropriate it was to be making a siyum during the Yomim Noraim, as we approach Simchas Torah. Throughout our learning, I was always surprised by how many new insights I could find in the text, and by how many questions I had …
This time last year, I did not feel ready for Yom Kippur. I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t think I had done any semblance of a proper teshuva. And I just wanted to stay home from shul. I called up one of my role model/friends and asked her to give me whatever chizuk came to mind. These …
Every year before Rosh Hashanah, it helps me to remind myself that it’s about crowning Hashem King, not about shopping for my desires in the coming year. Crowning Him means that I understand He is King of the world, in a grand sense, but also King over me, in a personal sense, my outer and inner worlds and all the …
A few years ago, a very well-meaning aunt sent the following segulah to my mother: On Motzoei Shabbos, one should wash for melava malka, tell a story of the Baal Shem Tov (which was included) and bentch without talking about anything else. One should follow this sequence for six consecutive weeks and will (iy”H) meet their zivug in short order. …
I like to use WhatsApp for the convenience, but waiting for those double blue checks to appear can become addictive, especially when I really want to hear back from someone. A few weeks ago, I made one small change that’s made a huge difference — turning off read receipts (no blue checks for either me or the person I’m messaging). …
