Significance of the title

I chose the title only after the entire manuscript was ready. It has a double meaning: All is up to HaKadosh Baruch Hu; at the same time, we can direct our lives up to Him.

An early experience that taught me the power of writing

In 6th grade, I won an award for writing an essay entitled “Why We Honor the American Flag.” In 10th grade I won an opportunity to meet Anatoly Sharansky, because my poem about the life of a refusenik was chosen as a winning entry in a contest.

I don’t think that either of those writings were especially wonderful. I do, however, think that the experience of winning those awards, as well as having some of my writing featured in the school yearbook, encouraged me to think that I might someday earn the title “author,”  “poet,” “playwright,” or “songwriter.”

What motivated me when the going got rough

Coffee (Just kidding. I didn’t even start drinking coffee ‘till 2013.)

Words of encouragement from people who matter to me.

And coffee.

What I left unwritten — and why

In this book, as when I teach, I leave much unsaid regarding specific applications of each lesson. I aim to provide just enough for the reader to glean insight and apply his or her own connections.

The hardest part to write

Acknowledgments. They are never enough.

The author I wish could mentor me

I’d deeply appreciate being mentored by Sara Yoheved Rigler. I have great respect for her masterful style of descriptive storytelling tied into self-effacing learning opportunities. I also like Mitch Albom’s writing style, so it would be cool to receive mentorship from him.

My favorite essays

“Owning My Conscience” (Mikeitz) is about learning from Yosef Hatzaddik — and from my mother — that true chinuch is about creating an environment in which our children are most likely to choose to do the right thing, even when it’s hard and uncomfortable.

“Angels Don’t Eat” (Shavuos) ties in Midrash, hashkafah, and personal anecdotes to come to a valuable understanding of why Shtei Halechem is the offering on the day we fully accept Torah as our guide to life.

“Assassination and Reward” (Ki Sisa) is especially enlightening in a world where people are sometimes shouting that which is undoubtedly true, yet the delivery is too harsh to be heard.

The most challenging parshah to cover

Acharei Mos was the one parshah left after all the rest were accounted for. I was tempted to make it a light piece, so I could just submit the manuscript already, but I decided to spend time understanding Nadav and Avihu’s behavior beyond pshat. I’m glad I challenged myself. I hope the reader is, too.

My writing space

More like writing spaces, in plural. That would be bedroom floors, kitchen counters, picnic benches, coffee shops, dining room tables, living room couches, camp bungalows, and airplanes. When I knew I had about 15 hours of finalizing left, my husband booked me three days in a local hotel, so I could wrap it up and send it to Mosaica.

Book currently on my night table

I usually have two books on my night table and not a good novel, because then I’ll stay up all night reading it (which is only okay if I don’t need to interact with any human beings the following day).

The last two books I had on my night table were The Seven Colors of the Rainbow by Yirmiyahu Bindman and Brenĕ Brown’s Rising Strong.

Always in my purse

I don’t carry a purse. I just hang around people who have the stuff I might need.

I’d title my autobiography

I Try.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 760)