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Articles by Chaya Rosen
Venezualan Plot Twists
Venezuelan Plot Twists The Venezuelan saga now has enough twists to resemble a hard-boiled detective novel. On the side of the alleged good guys, the United States seized a vessel off Venezuela’s coast, claiming it was carrying “sanctioned oil” of Venezuelan and Iranian origin. Donald Trump, never one to understate a threat, floated the possibility of a ground incursion against what he memorably labeled the “narco-government” of dictator Nicolás Maduro.
The Last Leader - Mishpacha
Title: The Last Leader Location: Vilna Document: Telegram Time: 1940 While Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzenski led Vilna’s beis din and the prewar Torah world, another luminary served quietly beside him for over 40 years: Rav Chanoch Henoch Eiges, immortalized as the Marcheshes after his renowned sefer. Despite his unassuming nature, Rav Eiges was a giant in his own right. He served as a dayan until his tragic martyrdom during the Holocaust.
Lessons Learned from a Schoolbag
It’s summer. And after the end-of-school rush and the start of camp, it’s quiet. Now it’s just me and the mess to clean, and for a good few hours, there’s no one to undo whatever I’ve accomplished. I head straight for the schoolbags. They’ve been eyeing me since school ended, taking up space on the hooks that now need to hold the camp bags.
Verse - Chabad.org
ב"ה Kabbalah and Chassidism from the inside out: poetry and verse that explore faith and challenge, falterings and triumphs, G-d and man 59 items in this section Show all Before G-d made me, what was I? And how did I arise in His longing? Was I a dash, a smudge, a ray within the sun?
Skin Deep - Mishpacha
The car turns hot and sticky mere seconds after I turn it off, but I don’t get out, even as I feel my waterproof mascara slowly melting. The thing about meeting Hadassah for acai bowls in the middle of my one day off is that while I can forgive my grocery stocking slot and only chance to sleep in, spending time with her actually makes me feel bad about myself in every way possible: looks, personality, finances. You name it, I can feel insecure about it.
Overuse Injuries
Do you love gymnastics or sports? Do you spend lots of time on a computer, perhaps dabbling in graphics or typing up schoolwork? Do you carry a very heavy backpack every day? Do you play a musical instrument frequently, for hours at a time? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be at risk for an overuse injury, also known as a repetitive strain injury (RSI).
Plants - Mishpacha
Let’s find out how plants can actually improve our health, and which plants to try. Allergy attacks. Fatigue. Asthma. Headaches. Tickly coughs. All unpleasant. And all can be caused by different triggers. For some people, one of those triggers could be chemicals lurking around the home, silently affecting those who are breathing them in, all day, every day.
Permission Granted
“But…but what about a succah?” Yoni wailed. “How come we had to come to this horrible little town?” It was warm inside. For the first time in a long time, there was actually a really good smell wafting invitingly from the kitchen. Yoni shrugged off his backpack and hurriedly washed his hands — by now, the habit was so entrenched that even with Dovi safely in the hospital, he washed anyway. He rushed into the kitchen and was delighted to find Ma standing at the counter. “Ma!” Yoni whooped.
Laughter - Mishpacha
Would you ever have guessed that laughing is good for you? Are there serious benefits to cracking up? Yup, it’s true; there are health benefits to laughing, and they’re nothing to laugh at. Laughter can enhance your physical, emotional, and mental health. Laugh away! 8 Ways Laughing Can Make You Healthier Laughter can improve your immune system, making it easier to fight off viruses and other bugs. When you laugh, your body increases immune cells, as well as antibodies, that help you fight infection.
Kidneys - Mishpacha
While some kidney diseases cannot be prevented, others can be prevented, to a certain extent, by taking good care of your body! Taking Care of Your Kidneys The following points can help keep your kidneys in top form: Exercising can help prevent kidney disease by preventing other conditions that often lead to kidney disease, such as high blood pressure and heart disease. All the more reason to get moving.
Fever - Mishpacha
It looks like you have fever!” You know the look: flushed cheeks and glassy eyes. You know the feeling: chills and shivering, feeling boiling hot one minute and freezing cold the next; feeling exhausted, tired, and just plain sick. Sometimes, fever is accompanied by pain: a sore throat, sore muscles, or other aches. Some people get a little nervous when they (or their children) have fever. It can be scary, especially if the fever is high. But usually, fever isn’t something to be afraid of. Here’s why.
Tickled Pink - Mishpacha
wonderful husband, beautiful children — but I wanted something extra. With five lively, happy (fighting) boys in tow, I’d meet friends and notice that girls come with ruffles and bows, all serving no purpose other than to celebrate their femininity. I wanted that extra; I wanted a girl. When the sonographer told me that my sixth baby would be a girl, I told her to check again. And then again. Please, a third time just to make sure.
Shevi’s Journey - Conclusion
It’s me, Shevi. You’ve been reading about me and my journey and my ups and downs for months now. You’ve read how I became a happier and healthier person. I haven’t hidden anything – you’ve seen me at my worst moments, my most embarrassing moments, and at my moments of triumph, too. You’ve watched as I’ve grown and learned and, yes, even taught. You’ve seen my tears and heard my pain.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter XVIII
Previously: Shevi and Gitty find the school melava malka harder than they thought. My newly discovered euphoria was nowhere to be found as I trudged into Mrs. Rich’s office that Monday. Things had been going so well until the school melave malka. After fighting an internal battle that felt like World War III and waging an awful war with myself, I had sat down at the table virtuously with a small cup of fruit compote from the dessert table.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter XVII
Do you like school events? I never did. Now that I had a friend, though, it was a different story and I was kind of looking forward to my grade’s melave malka. Especially because I knew who I’d sit next to! Mommy had bought me a new Shabbos outfit for the event, as a kind of reward for working so hard lately. I liked how I looked in it, which was a first for me. Anyway, I felt cheerful and confident when Mommy dropped me off at the school on Motzei Shabbos.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter XVI
Previously: Shevi and Gitty talk about fats and reading food labels. She then spends time with her father. I had become a fat warrior. Mommy agreed to take me with her to the supermarket as Mrs. Rich had suggested, and together we became food detectives. At our last session we had learned all about how sneaky food manufactures were; they snuck all sorts of foods and chemicals into their products to trick our brains into wanting more and more, and made it hard to feel full. For example, Mrs.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter XV
Previously: Shevi and her mother have a great session with the nutritionist. I was bursting to share my new discoveries with Gitty and I could hardly wait for her to make herself comfortable at my desk. Gitty was caught up in my enthusiasm, too, and was eager to hear what I had to share. She leaned forward and cupped her chin in her hands attentively. I pulled a box of animal crackers and a bunch of other cans and boxes out of the shopping bag I’d schlepped up the stairs. Mrs.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter X!V
Previously: Shevi and Gitty talk about Gitty’s brother who is overweight and Shevi’s shares some nutritional tips. “How’s it going?” Mrs. Rich asked as she cheerfully greeted us at our next appointment. I smiled back at her. Mommy sat down next to me with a plop. “Well,” I said, shy at first, “it’s hard, too. It’s like you said last time – that it is hard to change habits. But at the same time, I feel good because I’m working hard on something that’s important. And that’s a good feeling.” Mrs.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter XIII
When we last left Shevi, she was being saved from class bullies by Gitty who said that her twin struggled with her weight as well. “Yes, my twin.” Gitty affirmed. “I have a twin. Didn’t you know?” Then she looked down at her hands. “Though I guess there’s a lot people don’t know about me. I tend to be pretty quiet.” “A girl twin? I mean, like, a twin sister?” My words tripped over themselves and I berated myself for sounding like a blabbering idiot. “No, of course not.” Gitty gave me a funny look.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter XII
Previously: The family begins to adjust to all the changes – including exercise and eating healthy. My stomach rumbled. I was so hungry. I buried my head in my arms. Then I lifted it off my school desk as I felt two pairs of eyes boring holes into the back of my head. My heart dropped so far, so fast it made me feel nauseous. Why was she doing this to me? Why couldn’t this girl get a life and leave me alone? Why do some people find so much pleasure in tormenting those who are different?
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter XI
Previously: Another session at the nutirtionist brings more of a focus on healthy eating and exercise. A soft circle of light glowed under my bedside lamp. I snuggled deeper under my warm blanket and turned the page in my book. A deep, contented feeling filled my lungs as I took in a deep breath. The last week had been better, overall. I was still being teased at school, but I’d gotten a great mark on a Navi test which really pleased everyone, and Abba had purchased two second-hand exercise bikes.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter X
Previously: Shevi has a long talk with her father about dance class and the family making healthy choices. Mommy and Abba had agreed; I didn’t need to go back to the dance class! The stress I’d felt ever since Mommy had mentioned the dance class for the first time slowly melted away, like a big cone of vanilla chocolate-chip ice-cream left outside on a hot, dry day. In the meantime, Monday rolled around again. We went back to the dietician together, Mommy and I.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter IX
Previously: Shevi’s mother finds out that she did not attend dance class. After Mommy found out that I had ditched my dance class, she’d gone to her room and cried. I heard her yelling to Abba, “I’m trying so hard to help her and she just doesn’t want to be helped!” I stuck my fingers in my ears and buried my head in my own pillow, feeling slightly ill from the vast quantity of snacks and candy I had eaten that evening. Somehow, I wasn’t so surprised when Abba came to my room a while later.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter VIII
Previously: Shevi has a run-in with a bully in school. Spicy potato chips, check. Sour sticks, check. Caramel popcorn, check. Fudgy chocolate brownies from last night’s dessert, check. One small bottle of orange soda, check. Satisfied, I crammed the stuff deeper into the knapsack and put the hideous dance clothes on top. Hopefully, it would be enough to last me for at least half of the dance class. I would ration it, I decided. I’d eat slowly and mindfully, like Mrs. Rich had told me to do.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter VII
Previously: At the nutritionist’s office, Shevi’s mom leans the whole family has to make changes. Tamara was bee-lining towards me, an evil grin on her face. “Guess what! The costumes for the production came in today!” Cold, icy fingers squeezed my heart so tightly that it hurt to breathe. The Production, you see, was a major production in our school. Every grade was involved, and not one girl was excused. Everyone had to have one part on stage and one part behind the scenes.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter VI
Previously: Shevi’s experience at the dance class was a humiliating one; she spent most of her time in the bathroom crying. I waited for Monday, for my scheduled appointment with the pediatric dietician, the same way people wait for the day they’ll come home to find an armed robber lurking around their house. The same way people wait for the day they’ll walk into a house with a thousand million poisonous snakes on the floor. The way people wait for… well, you get my point.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter V
Previously: After the doctor recommends that she exercise, Shevi’s mother signs her up for dance classes. The gym was loud and big and filled with the echoes of girls whooping greetings at each other. I slunk in, the hideous dance clothes Mommy had made me bring hidden deep in the bag at my side. An extremely tall and maddeningly slim lady, obviously the teacher, was clapping her hands energetically. The talking, laughing crowd of girls slowly moved into some form of formation.
Shevi’s Journey - Chapter IV
Shevi and her mother go to see the doctor who makes it clear that her weight is unhealthy for her. He refers them to a pediatric nutritionist and suggests Shevi begin exercising. Mommy smiled at me brightly as we left the doctor’s office. “Sounds fun! I think there’s a dance class for teens at the Bais Yaakov. I’ll look into it when we get home. You’ll get to meet new people! And move around to fun music! Doesn’t that sound like fun?” Mommy went right on talking as if she hadn’t heard me.
Mourning in Monticello
BRUSH OFF Our only hope: Rabbi Rosenberg the humble camp posek. Surely he would tell us we had a few minutes to play with! Surely he would find some obscure heter! (Pikuach social life? Post-halitosis-stress-disorder?) At the very least he could probably give us the green light to brush with some H2O T he sun was setting the air was steamy and two panicky 14-year-olds embarked on an emergency mission: find Rabbi Rosenberg NOW.
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