The city of Granada in southern Spain has announced the opening of a museum dedicated to the culture of Sephardic Jews who used to live there before the Inquisition. The museum, which is called The Palace of the Forgotten, is housed inside the Santa Ines Palace located in Albaicin—a neighborhood in the city’s old center where many Jews lived before 1492.
It all began four and a half years ago when I wanted to take my 3 year old and 6 month old daughters for a professional photo session. Because every little girl needs a beautiful bow for every occasion, I searched high and low for the perfect headbands to match their outfits. I did find some beautiful pieces, however, the prices were a bit higher than I was comfortable spending and the quality was not up to par. Being that I always loved crafts, and especially loved dolling up my girls, I decided to give bow making a try.
Weddings are going softer, sweeter, lusher and more heartfelt. 2014 has brought a return to the classics. The return to romance ushers in a new love for the formality of days gone by. Think white-gloved waiters and big band dancing, crystal candlesticks and gold-rimmed china.
How a child is treated by the person who raises him can make all the difference in what type of life he’ll lead. A new study says that if one was raised with criticism, yelling, or threats, he’s more likely to be anxious or depressed as a young adult. Once a person is thus affected, the likelihood he’ll become involved in substance abuse increases, as he may turn to drugs and alcohol to mask pain and discomfort. Research does indeed indicate that those with anxiety disorders are two to three times more likely than the general population to have an alcohol or other substance abuse disorder at some point in their lives.
STAR-K Kosher Certification recently held its first Winter Kashrus Training Program for a group of mashgichim from New York. The participants, who live in Boro Park, traveled to attend the seminar in Baltimore on three consecutive Sundays, January-February. The program was the brainchild of Mr. Meir Rand, a Chasidishe mashgiach who has worked in various kitchen venues in Boro Park.
Your wedding day will be one of the most special days in your life and to look and feel special is the dream of most brides. There will be more pictures taken of you on your wedding day than any other day of your life. I’ve got the beauty tips you need to look your best on this special day. First keep in mind that how you look on that day begins way before that morning. It’s important to start a good beauty regime ASAP to guarantee smooth clear skin.
Ruki Renov, author of the immensely popular “The Art of the Date,” is back with wise and witty advice for married couples. She offers sage advice for men, such as, “Never argue with a woman when she’s tired—or when she’s rested.” She gives fine advice for women, such as, “A woman never appears more intelligent to a man than when she is listening to him.” And for both men and women, she suggests, “To keep your marriage strong, whenever you are wrong, admit it. When you are right, keep your mouth shut.”
The Sephardic Division of the UJA-Federation of New York, along with more than 100 community leaders, celebrated the Chehebar family, who received the first Morris Bailey Leadership Award at the home of Miriam and Manny Haber. Honorary Chair and UJA-Federation Board Member, Morris Bailey; Vice Chair, Harry Adjmi; and the Leadership Committee: Joe Cayre, Raymond Chalme, Jojo Chehebar, Stanley Chera, Eli Gindi, David Hidary, Jack Rahmey, and Teddy Serure raised nearly $1.1 million. This success captures the depth and breadth of the event, the honorees, and the continued generosity to the UJA-Federation.
Are the winter blues getting you down? Don’t let the weather—or any other outside event—determine your level of happiness. If there is one primary insight revealed by recent research into the psychology of happiness, it is overwhelming evidence that happiness is a choice; it’s within our control, regardless of outside circumstances. But general knowledge is one thing and practical tools quite another. To help you prove this to yourself, here are a few happiness tools that are guaranteed to work.
Child molestation is a disease. The child molester is a sick person with an illness that he is unable to control or stop on his own. He has a preoccupation and a sexual desire for young children. In order to stop, he needs help through treatment, supervision or incarceration.
While contemporary weddings are a symbol of love and commitment between the bride and the groom, for most of history, weddings were more like a business deal in which two families joined forces for a beneficial arrangement or alliance. Wedding dresses, then, were chosen to present the bride’s family in the best light, especially in terms of wealth and social status.
On January 11, 2014, Ariel (Arik) Sharon A”H passed away, losing his final battle. He fought valiantly for eight years trying to overcome the massive stroke that ravaged his body and left him in a coma, when he was prime minister of Israel and at the height of his political career.
Experts say the keys to successful aging include accepting changes and finding meaningful activities. Aging gracefully isn’t always easy, but attitude is incredibly important. It’s true that aging brings hardships, but remember that the old are survivors. Wisdom, resilience and a mature perspective are often cited as the hard-won prizes of aging. Growing old is an accomplishment.
Dear Readers,
I have a problem that I hope you can help me solve. I am a psychotherapist and, yet, I am turning to you for advice. Here’s my problem: we women and girls of today tend to be sophisticated—smart, attractive, stylish, committed to family, religion, health, exercise, and nutrition. What could be better? And yet, as Director of The New York Center for Eating Disorders, I have seen many beautiful women complaining desperately about their bodies and their looks. They strive to be “perfect” and do not seem to realize that everyone has her own unique and special beauty.
