Mishpacha Magazine

Freilechen Purim

By the time I came onto the scene, the extended family had grown so large that we spilled out of Aunt Vali’s small apartment

He put down the sefer and walked into another room. She followed him. She watched as he leaned his head against the wall and sobbed

Who needs all these Things? And what better time to dispose of the Stuff than now? Isn’t this exactly what pre-Pesach decluttering is all about?

When I’m in a social situation and I feel uncomfortable, I regurgitate random facts. And when I say facts, I use this term loosely

The box of cigarettes and the car keys bear silent witness.

I realized there was a drama being played out that had nothing to do with the music or the dancing or even the wedding

It’s not like we’re talking about things that are unimportant, we’re just not talking about the things that so many people are scared to talk about

I was enormously vexed when I told someone I recognized her from the past and she looked at me quizzically and said, “I know you?

Why do I feel the need to justify the depth of my sorrow? Why do we ascribe so little meaning to miscarriages, late miscarriages, and stillbirths?

It’s surprising how much close scrutiny is required for a simple trip to the grocery or pharmacy