This past [Gregorian] year has been one of the more challenging I’ve experienced, and I say that even after my husband’s and sister’s unexpected health issues which transpired and dominated most of 2020 and 2021 for us, respectively. Needless to say, I’ll be thrilled to say goodbye to 2023 this coming December 31. I’m looking forward to 2024 and all it has to offer, especially since 5784 has started off to be a much needed improvement. One of those improvements has come—shockingly—in the ...
Chanukkah
Remember the Light, Find the Hope
Tonight, as we all prepare to celebrate and light our Chanukkiyot, my husband and I have an extra reason to celebrate; our own Chanukkah miracle you might say. One year ago on the 25th of Kislev, we married. By the graciousness of our rabbi, he let us get married on the first night of Chanukkah! He even suggested instead of a unity candle to light the Chanukkah menorah as our first act together as man and wife. This year—for many, for all—we have endured unprecedented challenges. For ...
The Wedding Planning Roller Coaster
It's been 6 weeks since I became engaged. There are 9 weeks and two days until I get married, and what a journey it has thus been. What began as a bit of bumpy, albeit sometimes scary, ride has turned into the most stunning, breathtaking, miraculous quest I've ever endeavored. When we became engaged on Labour Day weekend, I knew we only had 3-4 weeks until the High Holy Days, which would halt most, if not all, wedding planning. It should because our focus should be on Hashem during ...
The Original Cinderella
Do you know what begins tonight?! Purim! Okay, so I realise some of you may not know what Purim is, which is sad because I think you’re missing out. Purim is first and foremost a Jewish holiday. People describe it as being a cross between Halloween and Mardi Gras, which is somewhat accurate. We dress up in costumes, wear masks, eat these funny-named triangular cookies called Hamantaschen (yum!), and even get ourselves a little tipsy. (Okay, so some of the Rabbis say we should get so ...
Restoring Jerusalem
Today, something very important is going to happen. I say “very important”. Let me rephrase… Dramatic. Significant. Epical. Necessary. Vital. Historical. I could keep going by merely opening a thesaurus and just picking any word that relates to “important”, for you see today something wonderful is going to happen, something which we have been waiting for a long time. President Trump is going to announce his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel. Now, before I ...
