tomim tihye

bored123: You can use any challah recipe, or invent your own, just substitute whole wheat flour for white. I use as much whole wheat flour as I can safely use without risking loss of compliments. Sometimes, I get daring.

Brown sugar (instead of white) may offset the whole wheat taste.

1) Is it permissible to see blurred inappropriate images?

2) If yes, are your glasses/contacts at the beach with you?

One major issue facing children of many ba’alei t’shuva is lack of extended family who are part of their community. All their friends seem to have cousins being raised the same way they are, and these children do not. Their grandparents are not the same as those of their friends, and they do not have relatives’ simchos or family gatherings (of the same nature as their friends’) to attend. This can be very isolating for children, even if there are many siblings in the family, as extended family plays a crucial role in the frum community.

As the child of an FFB and a BT, I wanted to marry a BT, if only to give him and his future children the joy of being part of a large frum family, B”H. I am grateful that Hashem led me on that path.

It might be helpful to ba’alei t’shuva if a FFB family makes them feel like part of their own family. You don’t need to mentor them (unless they request specific advice), but you need to treat them like close family members. Well, maybe with more conscious effort since the blood bond isn’t there.

Refuah Sh’laima B’karov! Said some Tehillim for her.

P-3 is a special education service offered by the NYC Department of Education to private school students; basically, it’s free tutoring for kids who are deemed eligible. Eligibility is determined by a psychological evaluation conducted by the DOE without regard to income.

To provide P-3 services, one must be NY state certified and willing to work either: a) directly for the DOE on a 1099 tax form and receive your wages at least 6 weeks after the end of each month, or b) for a P-3 agency (such P3 Maven’s post) for less pay than the DOE offers, but on a W-2 tax form and (hopefully) every 2 or 4 weeks.

Also, most Yeshivos only allow P-3 services to be provided during afternoon hours (or at the child’s home or a P-3 center in the evening) which is a big drawback for mothers who wish to be home for their children.

“From the ocean? You actually have a table made out of seaweed?”

Squeak, does that seem fishy to you? OK, it’s made out of rice.

Alternatively, you can replace the word origins with nationality.

I’m a big fan of mothers of school-age children doing chessed involving their children’s education, such as being class mother, helping out with school functions, etc. I think it shows kids what’s important to you.

Rav Mattisyahu Salomon, Shlita, is recorded on tape saying that since the main mitzvah of a woman is tznius, her entry into adulthood should be marked with tznius. A big bash is in direct contrast.

When you have young children, it’s not a given that you can teach them to tolerate obnoxious guests. We had a certain guest from whom my young daughter would become nauseous and couldn’t eat. We stopped having that guest.

In my experience, Yekkes have no definite tradition regarding mismatching their names. Many of the older Yekkes have German names related to their Hebrew names (e.g. Leo for Yehuda, Julius for Yoel, Max for Meir, etc.).

I say as long as it’s dairy and unrelated to anything salty/savory, it’s delicious!

While a close relationship with our children is imperative, the nature of this relationship must remain “parent-child”, never “best friend”.

Also crucial is to remain guilt-free about whatever rules we decide. Dr. Haim Ginott (Between Parent & Child) says that a foolish rule enforced without guilt will not harm so much as a better rule implemented with guilt.

that you keep such a record of fievel’s posts

Shortly before I was discharged from Maimonides after giving birth, I thanked the Russian nurse who had been on duty for two shifts during my stay.

Her words will remain with me always: “When I meet people like you, I know there is G-d in this world.”

I think of her words as positive reinforcement from Hashem.

There is a certain Rebbi in a certain Yeshiva somewhere in this world who begins learning Mishnayos one-to-one with any boy who wishes a few years before his Bar Mitzva with the goal of making a siyum on Shas at the Bar Mitzva. It’s a beautiful way to begin adulthood!

We know a family who bought a smallish house in Northeast Philly for under 200K, so I figured a slightly larger one could be about 300K. Maybe I figured wrongly, but I’m pretty certain that taxes are less than NJ’s.

Philadelphia has several frum communities: Yeshiva area, Northeast, Bala Cynwyd. Don’t know exact cost of housing there, but I think it’s less than Lakewood and more than Waterbury.

It’s about a 2-hour drive from Brooklyn, but can be less with good timing.

Hey, Mods, my question was tongue-in-cheek; my point was that we all appreciate other people’s concern about our gashmiyus, and we prefer when they leave our ruchniyus for ourselves to care for.

Sorry, I guess I didn’t express myself clearly.

Ashrecha, Popa. Onu ameilim u’mekablim s’char

Learning the principles of reinforcement (positive and negative), cognitive behavior modification, and behavior reduction strategies (eg- extinction) can be the most effective tool in parenting.

I learned these principles by reading a college textbook called “Behavior Management” by Zirpoli, but there are many sources of this information.

Dr. Haim Ginott’s book, “Parent and Child,” was very helpful, too.

With girls, waterfights are not so poshut, and some of the water will be salty.

Aura, Rav Moshe Feinstein, of blessed memory, told someone I know that when it comes to shidduchim, one can assume that Hashem took care of the mother’s tevillah, i.e. the mother of the BT somehow immersed without knowing it. I know it may sound strange, but I know at least two people who realized that it made sense that it happened to them, i.e. she swam in the sea nine months before birth (not the ideal scenario for immersion, but retroactively may be ok, considering she didn’t know better.)

Oomis: We had Moshe as our novi before the Torah was offered to anyone.

Rav Hirsch, ztz”l, offers an explanation that combines and embellishes all of the above offerings, especially Mod 80’s.

Wolf and Interested Others, it’s best if you looked it up yourselves, but I’ll give it a shot:

A novi is a concentrated form of the essence of the people he represents. Klal Yisroel represents servitude to Hashem; the Umos Ha’olam represent Anochiyis- serving oneself. For them, Hashem is a Force to be reckoned with, Someone good to have on their side so they can be successful in this world.

Thus, when the Nations asked for a parallel to Moshe, they were asking for a leader who will help them achieve success in life, actualize their essence. This Bilaam accomplished to perfection; he “reckoned with G-D” and freed them to pursue their desires.

Had they truly desired greatness, they would have looked toward Moshe as their leader as Yisroel is “Ohr LaGoyim”.

(With gratitude to my husband for sharing this with me.)

I can see the thought that went into writing this letter.

May the z’chus of your caring bring them to recognition of truth.