No good story should ever go untold; this is mine: a few months before a trip to Florida, I was contemplating my purpose in life—wondering what goals I should be pursuing to make my mark on society. I was looking for something more than just being the monarch of help at my family’s side—which, by the way, is a 24/7 job!
Another year has passed and here we are again. This is the time to start anew. It’s a time to reflect on the things we have done and the words we have said, the transgressions we have made, and the mitzvot we let slip away. It is customary at this time to call our family and friends, we treasure dear, and ask them to forgive us. And yet, I find myself questioning how many of us truly fulfill this task with our hearts.
It’s not ideal to have a fight with your wife while on an exotic Mexican vacation, but the alignment of the stars occasionally makes some spats inevitable. I can’t tell you now what we were arguing about. It was insignificant, yet there we were, on a pristine beach, on a pristine day, and lying on a pristine lounge chair, was my very annoyed wife.
One in four women will be a victim of a crime in her lifetime. It is an alarming statistic—but statistics can be changed. You don’t have to be a victim. All it takes is a shift in your daily routine to make a difference. We should take clues from Israeli women. Anyone who has visited Israel quickly realizes they are aware and prepared to effectively deal with a problem. They are vigilant but relaxed and confident. We need to be alert, aware of our surroundings, and walk in public with confidence—sounds obvious, right? Venture out one day and look at the people on the streets, notice what they are doing, and how aware they are of their surroundings.
Within five years of the start of the Gold Rush in 1848, more than 5,000 Jews migrated to California in search of opportunity, joining members of other religious and ethnic groups. After 1858, with most of the California mining sites appropriated, gold seekers migrated to new strikes in Colorado, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon.
Life is full of stories about teenagers having difficulty making it through adolescence. However, parenting teens—even teens who are at risk— doesn’t have to be such a daunting task when parents are willing to focus more on the relationship and less on getting immediate results. Building the relationship is the key to reaching teens who are at risk.
Nightmares are disturbing dreams associated with negative feelings, such as anxiety or fear. They may begin in childhood and tend to decrease after age 10. However, some people have them as teens or adults, or throughout their lives.
With a slowly growing economy and a still sluggish job market, there has been a continued increase in children moving back home after having lived on their own. These so called “boomerang kids” are popping up more frequently and when this situation is managed improperly, it can cause serious tension in a family.
September is here and school is starting soon. In addition to shopping for clothes, school supplies and preparing for the holidays, we should be planning for our children’s—and our own—physical and mental well-being. Yeshivah education is vigorous and taxing and many students need an outlet for their pent-up energy. For parents as well, the stress of daily life needs to be dealt with in order to maintain good health. The practice of Pa-Kua martial arts can help you deal with these issues.
Makeup artists know all of the shortcuts when it comes to beauty and can transform a face, easily hiding all of its flaws. One tip that most women know is to change the color of their makeup according to the season. This keeps them looking refreshed. What most women need to learn from the pros is how to camouflage their flaws and capitalize on their assets.
Known as the Queen of Kosher and the Jewish Rachael Ray, Jamie Geller is Founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Kosher Media Network, publisher of the award-winning Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller magazine and the JoyofKosher.com website. Also the host of the Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller cooking show and Joy of Israel with Jamie Geller food and travel show on JLTV and the Israel Food Channel.
When raising a teenager, it’s natural to feel that there is little we can do to change his or her behavior. Furthermore, we often think that the child’s friends have much more influence over them than we do. However, clinical experience suggests that Mom and Dad are more important to their teenager than either realize. Parents can influence their teens, because teens truly care what their parents think. Studies show that kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs and alcohol from their parents are up to 50% less likely to use than those who don’t.
Start Your Day Right, eat a healthy breakfast. Many people choose to skip breakfast. This is not a good idea, because it can set you up for overeating later in the day. A healthy morning meal can give you energy, satisfy your appetite, and set the stage for smart decisions all day long.
The benefits of music lessons at a young age can extend throughout your child’s life. Music training improves the brain’s ability to discern the components of sounds—the pitch, the timing and the timbre. Music can also open a child’s mind to be more independent, creative and it gives children the opportunity to express themselves.
