Prevention of Child Abuse Worth More than Cure, by Shoshanna Silcove

This past Shabbes a young mother in our community asked me a question that made me shudder. “Do you know if the pedophile who abused Manny Waks is still in Yeshiva College or not?” I told her I had no idea of his identity and she went on to express her great trepidation at sending her still very young children to school there.  “ I don’t feel safe. I don’t feel the mosod is doing enough to protect my kids.”

The Other Side of the Story at LionFM, by Shoshanna Silcove

                   

There is an article here that is filled with so many half-truths and distortions that I really am at a bit of a loss as to where to begin. At this point since I am pressed for time, so I will simply address some general points.

How I Learned to Stop Complaining and Love Yom Tov, by Shoshanna Silcove

Making Yom Tov requires a Jewish woman to be a frugal shopper, an adequate cook, an event planner, an astute student of Jewish law, and a gracious hostess. She needs to be all this while still being a wife, a mother, or often a career woman too. In short, making Yom Tov is an endeavor that requires a Project Manager. Being the balaboostah is not a simple task, as she must oversee all aspects of the project from start to finish.  Over 20 odd years of running my own kosher kitchen  in our Torah observant household, I have learned through repeated failures and successes  how to stop complaining and love Yom Tov.  Here are ten of my tips:

Jews Who Want to Ban Kapores are Hypocrites, by Shoshanna Silcove

Sometimes people on the left, or those who criticize Torah practices, hold amazingly contradictory views that make me question their morality and their true motives. For instance, most of the same people who are animal activists who are upset over kapores, are also pro-abortion. They will get all upset and morally indignant about Jews swinging a chicken that is going to be slaughtered and eaten anyway, but are silent and even supportive while human babies are being slaughtered by the thousands on a daily basis. Seems that they care more about animals than people. Seems they put a higher value on animal life than human life.

I am also intrigued how certain critics of the practices of Torah Judaism invoke halachic arguments when it buttresses their point of view but, completely discard halacha in most other situations and, do not consider it to be binding upon them as Jewish people in their daily lives. And then they have the chutzpah to call frum people hypocrites! It is as if they see halacha as a smorgasbord that they have a right to pick and choose from. Either a Jew accepts halacha as obligatory or he/she doesn’t. One cannot use halachic arguments only when it suits their personal emotional purposes or when it provides a convenient axe to grind against ‘the Orthodox’. It is intellectually dishonest and reveals a lack of core principles

I Loved the Australian Lubavitch Women's Convention, by Shoshanna Silcove

As women arrived at the Jambaroo Valley Lodge, nestled in the beautiful mountains outside Sydney, for the 16th annual Australian Nshei Chabad Convention, one of the Rebbetzins told me, " Isn't the Rebbe an amazing genius? What other Rebbe in the world would tell the women to leave their homes, their kids, their husbands, to just drop everything and go away, together with other women, for two whole days." The Rebbe knew we really need these two day reprieves, to reconnect with other women, to recharge our batteries, both physically and spiritually, I thought. She went on to say," And what do we women focus on for the entire convention? Not material things, but spirituality, how to be better Jewish women, how to help others, how to bring Moshiach." So true.

Tu b'Av: Modesty and Matchmaking, by Shoshanna Silcove

During ancient time the 15th of Av was a festival day celebrated by matchmaking which took on a fairytale-like quality. All unmarried women would beautify themselves and don white gowns (each borrowed from the other in order not to embarrass the poor), making all women appear equal in status.

What's Kosher, Mate?, by Shoshanna Silcove

Melbourne, Australia is not New York City. This may seem to be stating the obvious, but, shortly after moving here from Brooklyn I would discover in a myriad of ways just how this was so. For instance, say the words ‘shlep’ or ‘shmatte’ or ‘shlamiel’ in mixed company in New York and everyone, even the Chinese, the Latinos, and the Afghanis, all know what you mean, more or less. Say those same words here in Melbourne, Australia and, they are met with curious raised eyebrows. “Is that Swedish?” they might say.

The Challenge of Becoming Sad, by Shoshanna Silcove

 I am a happy person. Life is good. Learning and practicing Chassidus has trained me to be in a good mood most of the time. Preparing my mind set for Tisha B'Av is  not easy. My mood is too buyount. I am filled with gratitude for all the blessings the Almighty has bestowed upon me.

Unsung Victories of the Baalei Teshuva, by Shoshanna Silcove

How would you describe colors to a blind person, or a piece of music to a deaf person? Close your eyes for a moment and ponder how you would convey the images and sounds. At the very least it would be a daunting, perhaps even an impossible task.

Just a little diddy I made up about our new PM:     

                                

My Name is Julia, by Shoshanna Silcove

I am woman, hear me strong,

even though my nose is long,

it doesn't mean that I will lie to you.

My hair and politics are red,

and I climbed as Kevin bled,

as I promised, to the summit, with a grand view!

The Invisible Curtain, by Shoshanna Silcove

“I just can’t understand it!’ my father said as he shook his handsome round face back and forth in bewilderment. He was in his mid 50′s and his luxurious full head of hair had been transformed from jet lack to distinguished salt and pepper. “We sent you to Temple Emanuel Hebrew school every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday for years. ” He pointed his finger in the air to punctuate, ‘and you grew up to become religious!’ Dad sneered and shook his head in incredulity. ‘We tried to raise you right. I just don’t understand how this happened,’ he muttered as if defeated.