We were all sitting quietly in our 5th grade classroom when the teacher introduced a new student who was joining our class. “This is Janie,” Mrs. Bricken said, “and I want everyone to make her feel welcome.” She raised her arms and fluttered her fingers like a waving flag, which […]
Spoken by yours truly:Excuse me you’re getting a little too close.6 feet apart, PLEASE. I’m trying to keep 6 feet apart.You are going the WRONG way.Please don’t come so close to me.Forgive me, I am SCARED! Definitely not spoken by yours truly:DON’T come near me!DON’T touch me!Are you kidding? You TOUCHED […]
The Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are solemn days of reflection and repentance. The prayers in our siddur (prayer book) are somber. This is our time to ponder our sins. We request forgiveness from those we have harmed. We ask G-d to forgive the sins committed […]
I was so excited to be pregnant. At 23, I was young and healthy and worked until five days before the birth of my baby. (I quit on his due date, but he was late, a precursor for the future.) When the pains started, they were about 10 minutes apart. […]
The Chinese have been credited with many inventions. These include gunpowder, paper making, the compass, printing and using silkworms to make silk. However, their greatest invention according to many is the creation of the game known as mahjong. Mahjong is a tile game that originated in China. Enthusiasts link the game […]
“Is not just Americans,” Tammy said. “In all countries people not necessarily nice or accepting of foreigners.” I had been sitting in her chair getting my standing Saturday manicure. This was her response after I was telling her about a book I’d been reading called, The Good Immigrant. The book is […]
This essay by Gail Lipsitz first appeared in the August 2020 issue of JMORE Living. “I can’t breathe!” The desperate cry of George Floyd, handcuffed, flat on the ground, pleading for his life as Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for an excruciating 8 minutes and 46 […]
“When a dog bites a man, that is not news… But if a man bites a dog, that is news.” This quote, the first rule of any journalism class, is attributed to New York Sun editor John B. Bogart (1848–1921). It was somewhat of a surprise then to read a leading story […]
Geoffrey and I help Laura load up the borrowed station wagon to take her off to college. I am excited for her—and for me. I will have the house to myself, a clean, quiet place without the phone’s incessant ringing or the monotonous musical scales of her flute floating up […]