Page 30 - issue
P. 30
28 BALTIMORE’S JEWISH FAMILY MAGAZINE
Running Dear Readers,
by Emma Michelsohn Our Jewish life is a study in contrasts. Coming out of the rush of the June “chasana
38 season” – the weddings and sheva brachos, not to mention the graduations – we are
now on the cusp of our annual period of mourning. The Three Weeks will start, and we
Teaching Dogs to Talk will be thrust into an entirely different mindset. Or will we?
by Raphael Blumberg
Simcha is easier – more “fun.” (And, as Americans, we know that fun is more impor-
44 tant than almost anything else.) Besides, we have a routine for doing weddings. The
music, the gowns, the gifts, the flowers are tailor-made to propel us to happiness.
Exodus from Iran
by Eta Kushner But what do we do when we are in mourning? It’s more like things we don’t do!
Indeed, not so long ago, except for the traditional reading of Eicha and kinnos, there
52 was nothing to do on Tisha b’Av. And perhaps the not doing actually contributed to
the sad feelings. The Three Weeks are the flip side of joy – negative and depressing –
Dalya Attar not a popular mood in our cheerful American culture.
by Eta Kushner
We are used to constant “connection” via social media, games, music, phone calls,
62 and texting. How many of us think to ourselves, “I can’t wait for the Three Weeks to be
over, so I can listen to my music”? For teenagers, especially, how relevant are the Three
Spiritual Equilibrium Weeks and Tisha b’Av? What would make it a more meaningful day for them – and for
by Dr. Janet Sunness us?
76 Many people remember Tisha b’Av in camp as the “best” one in their lives. The coun-
selors strove to make the day meaningful. On a day when not much is required, it is up
Ask the Shadchan to each individual, each family, to create meaning. Today, there are a plethora of pro-
by Mashe Katz grams for men, women, and children, as well as books, articles, and internet shiurim.
In addition, a family could explore the themes of the season, such as how to get rid of
80 any drop of sinas chinam (baseless hatred) within one’s heart. Or a person could do a
smart phone “fast.” The withdrawal pains may be a way to simulate the loneliness and
Nof Tzion alienation from Hashem that we want to feel on this day.
by Bracha Shugarman
A new greeting has emerged, as more and more people each year wish each other a
90 “meaningful fast.” And this is what we, too, wish our readers: May we all have a wonder-
ful, safe summer and a meaningful fast.
Chidon Tanach
by Caleb Gitlitz AD DEADLINE PUBLICATION DATE
94 July 31, 2017 August 7, 2017
Miriam-Rochel Faux u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
by Margie Pensak
102
Ten Myths
by Eli Pollock
106
Selective Mutism
by Sara Wolf
108
My Yiddisheh Mameh
by I. Kinek
118
All Aboard
by Eve Poupko
122
BeEACH
by Sima Goldman
22
Running Dear Readers,
by Emma Michelsohn Our Jewish life is a study in contrasts. Coming out of the rush of the June “chasana
38 season” – the weddings and sheva brachos, not to mention the graduations – we are
now on the cusp of our annual period of mourning. The Three Weeks will start, and we
Teaching Dogs to Talk will be thrust into an entirely different mindset. Or will we?
by Raphael Blumberg
Simcha is easier – more “fun.” (And, as Americans, we know that fun is more impor-
44 tant than almost anything else.) Besides, we have a routine for doing weddings. The
music, the gowns, the gifts, the flowers are tailor-made to propel us to happiness.
Exodus from Iran
by Eta Kushner But what do we do when we are in mourning? It’s more like things we don’t do!
Indeed, not so long ago, except for the traditional reading of Eicha and kinnos, there
52 was nothing to do on Tisha b’Av. And perhaps the not doing actually contributed to
the sad feelings. The Three Weeks are the flip side of joy – negative and depressing –
Dalya Attar not a popular mood in our cheerful American culture.
by Eta Kushner
We are used to constant “connection” via social media, games, music, phone calls,
62 and texting. How many of us think to ourselves, “I can’t wait for the Three Weeks to be
over, so I can listen to my music”? For teenagers, especially, how relevant are the Three
Spiritual Equilibrium Weeks and Tisha b’Av? What would make it a more meaningful day for them – and for
by Dr. Janet Sunness us?
76 Many people remember Tisha b’Av in camp as the “best” one in their lives. The coun-
selors strove to make the day meaningful. On a day when not much is required, it is up
Ask the Shadchan to each individual, each family, to create meaning. Today, there are a plethora of pro-
by Mashe Katz grams for men, women, and children, as well as books, articles, and internet shiurim.
In addition, a family could explore the themes of the season, such as how to get rid of
80 any drop of sinas chinam (baseless hatred) within one’s heart. Or a person could do a
smart phone “fast.” The withdrawal pains may be a way to simulate the loneliness and
Nof Tzion alienation from Hashem that we want to feel on this day.
by Bracha Shugarman
A new greeting has emerged, as more and more people each year wish each other a
90 “meaningful fast.” And this is what we, too, wish our readers: May we all have a wonder-
ful, safe summer and a meaningful fast.
Chidon Tanach
by Caleb Gitlitz AD DEADLINE PUBLICATION DATE
94 July 31, 2017 August 7, 2017
Miriam-Rochel Faux u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
by Margie Pensak
102
Ten Myths
by Eli Pollock
106
Selective Mutism
by Sara Wolf
108
My Yiddisheh Mameh
by I. Kinek
118
All Aboard
by Eve Poupko
122
BeEACH
by Sima Goldman
22
