Library 351 articles
Breaking the Ice of my Mind: My Journey with OCD and Mikvah
Challenges of preparing for mikvah immersion while dealing with severe OCD and how the joy of the mitzvah of mikvah can be regained
A Mikvah for Every Jewish Woman
The a Rebbe's Global Campaign for Taharat Hamishpachah
Ten Ancient Mikvahs, From Jerusalem and Beyond
Ritual purity has always been a treasured mitzvah for the Jewish people, evidenced by the numerous ancient mikvahs discovered by archeologists throughout the Land of Israel, the Mediterranean basin, and Europe. Wherever Jews settled, they built mikvahs.
Ten Gorgeous Mikvaos from Around the World
Fifty years ago, the Rebbe launched a campaign to encourage mikvah observance (Family Purity) among Jewish couples all over the world. This led countless communities, both large and small, to invest in building new mikvahs. Many of these modern mikvahs are more beautiful than luxury spas, truly bringing honor to this sacred mitzvah.
Musings of A Mikvah Attendant
A volunteer mikvah attendant shares her thoughts and feelings of awe and fulfillment in this holy role
Colorado Springs Mikvah
Mikvah for Colorado Springs
Exploring the Halacha, Hashkafa and Emotional Aspects of Menopause
The Halachic, Hashkafic and Emotional perspective on Menopause by Kallah teachers Mrs Esther Piekarski and Mrs Chaya M. Klein
Exploring the Physical Characteristics of Menopause
This article is an edited summary of a podcast conversation with Drs. Ezra Dori and Robert Klinger on the changes that occur during this significant stage of a woman's life.
The Unexpected Mikvah
On erev Pesach 2016, a year and a half after we had purchased our building in Vacaville California, I was preparing for our community seder. The tables were beautifully set, but the condition of the room was really upsetting to me. We had purchased our building over a year prior and plans constantly were stalled for one reason or another. Things were just not moving forward, and the building- although large and spacious-served as a warehouse previously and it was in dire need of renovation.
A Match Made In Heaven
Sivan was in her ninth month of pregnancy. She wanted to perform a custom to immerse in a mikvah during the ninth month in preparation for her upcoming birth. She had also heard of a segulah (a good omen) for someone trying to conceive, to immerse in the mikvah after this, as a special merit for them.
Faith, Family, and Miracles: Inspiring Mikvah Stories from a Shlucha in Moscow
The Following Stories are reprinted with permission from BR Embrace, a magazine connecting Beth Rivkah alumni globally.
Get to know our Top Resources
This article provides an overview of the various resources available on Mikvah.org. From practical guidance to educational materials, Mikvah.org offers a range of resources to explore.
The Waters of Growth
I'm sitting in the Mikvah waiting room. For the first time in almost a year and a half. Perhaps the longest amount of time I've gone between Mikvah visits since I was married almost a decade ago. Let's blame it or give thanks to - depending on how you look at it - on babies, nursing, hormones.
Childbirth on Shabbos and Yom Tov
Childbirth on Shabbos and Yom Tov
Mikvah on TSha BAv
What to do when Mikvah falls out on T'Sha B'Av
Caressed by the Mikvahs Waters Month After Month
As a nervous bride-to-be with my mother by my side, as is often the custom the very first time, I felt like I'€(TM)d gained entry into a secret society the first time I attended the mikvah.
Instructions and Tips for a Yom Tov Tevillah
Instructions and Tips for Mikvah preparation and immersion on Yom Tov
Breastfeeding and Jewish Law
A general outline of the laws of breastfeeding. A woman should consult her own Rav for any clarifications.
I am Pregnant and Feel I Can Not Handle a Baby Now
Overwhelmed by an unexpected pregnancy? Open up to the possibilities.
Surrender
Resources for the Engagement Period
Supporting Friends and Family on Fertility Journeys with Sensitivity
Resources for Loss Support
We are blessed to have so many systems in place to help others during their time of need. Each organization listed is unique, so read through the descriptions to find the best fit for you. Most of the services offered are free of charge.
A Halachic Guide to Pregnancy Loss
The following guide is based on questions that were submitted by women who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy. They relate to taharas hamishpachah, the laws of Shabbos, tumas meis, etc. The answers given by HaRav Kasimov are for general knowledge and should not take the place of asking a she'elah to a Rav, as even a slight detail may change the psak. While this is not a complete guide to the halachas pertaining to pregnancy loss, these are the most frequently asked questions.
The Chabad Wedding Guide
Clear guidelines for five components of a Chabad wedding to follow Halacha accurately and bring down the desired blessings for the newly married couple, reviewed and endorsed by many Chabad Rabbonim.
The Power of Mikvah
What is as holy as Yom Kippur, as powerful as prayer and the secret of a spiritually dynamic marriage? You may not believe it, but the answer is The Mikvah. The traditional Jewish observance guiding the intimate relationship between husband and wife.
Timed Mikvah Preparation Checklist
Reprinted, with permission, from The Taharas Hamishpacha Workbook by Rabbi David Kaufman,this checklist can be used by women having trouble estimating the amount of time they should use to prepare for Mikvah immersion. This list was approved by Rabbi Sholom Ber Chaikin, a Rav who deals especially with the laws of family purity. The timing allocations are suggestions, not Halacha, and are meant for usual circumstances. Get ready for the beautiful zechus (merit) of this mitzvah, as you prepare in a spirit of joy. This covers the Chafifah part of the preparations.
My Wig is My Crown
My wig is my crown, On top of my head, a symbol of royalty, Identifying me as the Chosen Nation. Its strands glisten like gems, Each expertly arranged To reflect my position As a princess. Gentle, tasteful, poised, respectable. Perched on my head in perfect placement.
How To Ask A Shaila
Some inportant guidelines to asking a shaala (halachic question) correctly. Learn how to develop a relationship with a Rav to ensure a personalized response. Understand how to ask the question with attention to clarity and detail. Adapted from a presentaion given by Rabbi Yosef Braun and Rabbi Tuvia Kasimov
Mikvah On The Mountain One Woman's Miracle
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is believe...Sometimes the biggest miracles happen when we least expect it
Is Judaism Patronizing to Women
Who is better? Men or women?
The Three Dollar Miracle
Story of a childless woman and a miracle, told in her own words
Living Waters Experiencing Mikvah
One woman's thoughts and feelings on mikvah and all it represents
Five Things I Learned About Being A Woman From The Mikvah
The brilliance of Taharas Hamishpachah becomes evident to human eyes
Confessions of A Mikvah Goer
I was about to say No to mikvah...but it occurred to me that as a travel journalist, I seek out, and frequently attend ceremonies from other cultures. Why not try my own?
Pesach to Shavuos
From Pesach to Shavuous is spring time, when love is in the air. no better place to talk about love relationships...
The Bodeket Part VI
Part VI in a series of articles explaining the role of the Bodeket in keeping the complex laws of Taharas Hamishpacha
MIracle Baby
A Jewish couple who gave up hope on having a child rolled into Chabad of Nepal. What happened next will deeply move you.
Did You Miss the Love Boat?
The Talmud compares the miracle of finding a soulmate to the miracle of G-d splitting the Red Sea.
The Prospective Mate
A Guide To Shidduchim & Marriage Based On The Teachings Of The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson Shidduchim
The Bodeket Part V
Part V in a series of articles explaining the role of the bodeket in keeping the complex laws of Taharas Hamishpacha
Mikvah Stories
Some inspiring true stories about mikvah.
Approaching A Shidduch
A Guide To Shidduchim & Marriage Based On The Teachings Of The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson Shidduchim
The Bodeket Part IV
Part IV in a series of articles explaining the role of the bodeket in keeping the complex laws of Taharas Hamishpacha
The Bodeket Part III
Part III in a series of articles explaining the role of the bodeket in keeping the complex laws of Taharas Hamishpacha
The Mikvah Challenge
Can stress of life interfere with mikvah immersion...
The Bodeket Part II
Part II in a series of articles explaining the role of the bodeket in keeping the complex laws of Taharas Hamishpacha
The Bodeket Part I
Part I in a series of articles explaining the role of the bodeket in keeping the complex laws of Taharas Hamishpacha.
Double Blessings
Sometimes, we are lucky enough to see revealed blessings right before our eyes!
Mikvah On Time
Immersing in the mikvah on schedule can sometimes be challenging in our hectic lives.
Holy of Holies
You don't own intimacy
Dating For Marriage
Some key ideas to help anyone looking to get married
It All Started With A Dollar
As told by her husband Moshe Klein. We never know the ripple effects of our actions...
You, Not Love
Understanding the true function and purpose of love in a marriage.
Being Married The Hardest Thing You Will Ever Do
When you get married, everyone tells you how marriage is hard work. Of course, you were too much in love to believe it.
A Sacred Career
No glamor, no fame, no set hours or conventional pay! I wouldn't have it any other way!
A Trace of Eden
The gift of a mother to her precious child
Are You Afraid to Surrender? Being Receptive to Another Person
In a relationship, to surrender means unconditional acceptance and total commitment. At Mount Sinai, when the Jewish people received the Torah, they said: "We will do and we will listen" (Exod 24:7), they meant, "We accept You, God, as You are and we surrender to You unconditionally."
The Miracle Mikvah
At 16 Whalepond Road, right next door to Shaare Tefilah (the Eatontown Shul), is where you'll find the brand new Jherin Esther Gorcey Mikveh. The story of its construction is one of heartfelt prayers, bitter tears, and incredible miracles.
Dearest Kallah
Mazal Tov! You are about to begin a brand new chapter of your life and I wish you bracha and hatzlacha in every aspect of your journey.
Intimacy and Commitment
Immersion in the Mikvah represents a bond with the source of all existence, God. A woman who immerses so that her entire body is covered by the waters of the mikvah is relating totally, with her entire being, to God.
Trust and Openness
The man-woman relationship is more than a physical union and more than an emotional encounter. It is the coming together of two bodies, two hearts, two minds and two souls.
Inclusive Or Intrusive?
The delicate balance of holding on tight, but not too tight, is the exact balance required in a marriage
Your Mother Or Your Wife
My mother wants one thing, my wife wants another! How do I choose!?
Mikvah During War
I live in an area that has exactly one minute to get to safety when the sirens start shrieking
So You Want To Be A Nice Person?
How can we bring love, respect and devotion to our relationships? It's easy. You already know how deeply to need to be loved and how profoundly you want to be recognized. Now take that information and apply it to your relationships.
Bringing the Holy to the Whole Relationship
When we consider the effects of our dress and behavior on others, we develop a sensitivity to the nuances of the male-female dynamic, making our marital relationship all the more powerful and holy.
Finding Comfort and Strength at The Mikvah
A post-menopause mikvah experience.
Mikvah After Many Years
I vaguely knew about the Mikvah but it had always seemed to me something of another world.
Four Remedies for Marriage
What exactly distinguishes a good marriage from a dwindling one?
Mikvah at My Age?
After a lengthy courtship my partner and I decided to get married. Let me start at the beginning.
Mikvah 101
So there I was engaged and very excited to marry my fiancé when I began to hear about all the things I needed to do to "prepare for marriage".
I Am Just Like You
Married, waiting to conceive...trusting in Hashem...
God The Romantic
G-d is an unabashed romantic.
Splitting The Sea
It's not that we don't care about our home. In fact, that's how we got the hole behind the couch in the first place.
Amazing Challah
Enjoy this entertaining video on the wonderful mitzvah of making Challah.
Love in a Vacuum
I once gave a brachah to a friend that she should be married for so long that all of the handles should fall off of her pots and pans.
Marriage Is No Joke
My wife has no sense of humour. She says I make fun of her in public.
Reclaiming Intimacy, Modesty and Sexuality
Somewhere along the line we made the mistake of assuming that such a wonderful relationship just happens automatically. We took it for granted. After all, peoplle have been getting married for at least five thousand years. If they could do it, we ought to be able to do it, too.
Kindness Is A Miracle Cure
If you are, or have ever been, in a marriage or committed relationship you also know this to be true. When two people are kind to each other, there is no stopping the growth of closeness, friendship and intimacy.
Who Is Rich?
Can I afford a large family? Should we have a big family and hope for divine assistance to maintain our standard of living?
Public Displays of Affection?
How will my children understand love if they never see displays of affection between their parents?
Identity Crisis
Amnesia is a frightening illness. Imagine forgetting who you are -- suddenly you have no family, no history, and no identity. It can happen to an individual and it can happen to a people.
The Boy or the Bottle?
Times are financially stressful. What does that mean to our children? Where should we cut corners? Where should we not cut corners?
My Safe Waters
I went to the Mikvah for the first time 18 months ago as a bride...
Are Doubts Normal During Engagement?
Is it normal to have doubts during an engagement?
Yiddishe Nachas
What is of most important to us? What do we truly value? When it comes to our money, everything must be under lock and key, safe and sound, with ironclad securities. Are we as careful with our children?
Mountain Mikvah
Mikvah is an exquisite art. Not only can the mikvah bring a person to the final step towards becoming a part of Klal Israel, following a lengthy process and the directives of the Beis Din of course, but it also allowed me to be reborn.
My Yiddishe Mama
Does one ever 'lose' a mother? Does she remain with you forever?
Steady Hands
An elderly Jew with a large black Yarmulke once appeared at the Chabad counter in Ben Gurion Airport in Israel.
CHANA The Grace of Woman
Hashem gave woman a beautiful gift. He gave her three very special mitzvoth characterized by the acronym CHANA: Challah, Nidah and Hadlakat Neirot. Rearrange the letters and the word forms HACHEN: meaning grace, a state achieved by the woman who takes upon herself the performance of these three beautiful and crucial mitzvoth.
Are Women Stronger Than Men?
Are men and women created the same? What is the Torah view?
Insincerely Yours
Is it charity? Or am I bribing G-d?
Why No Flowers?
Is there something wrong with placing flowers on a grave? Why do I see stones placed upon the headstones?
Dating Or Dated Out?
Are blind dates just a waste of time? Dating is emotionally exhausting. Is there any message of hope for the dated out?
The Pressure Principle
Does security and comfort bring us success? Does challenge and adversity make us stronger, better than before?
Zeese Neshamale
A special neshama, here for just a moment in time, fulfills its purpose in a way we cannot understand
Something Precious
Hashem has a plan for each of us. Often the goodness of that plan is hard to see and His kindness evades our simple view. One woman writes of her trust and faith in all that He does, even through her pain.
A Tiny Seed A Precious Flower
Written from the heart trying to understand Hashem's ways, this poem touches the soul.
Chaya's Journey
A poem written from the heart upon the loss of a child
A Tiny Little Bundle
Each life is a miracle. Sometimes, that miracle is here for just a moment in time. Only Hashem understands why.
Modesty
A staple of Jewish life is modesty. In the way we walk down the street, in the way we interact with others, and in the way we dress.
Uncovering the Mystery of Modesty
A few years ago, my family and I spent our summer vacation up north in Tzfat, leaving our home in Central Israel for a few days.
Refine Your Search for A Soul Mate
My Jewishness is making it harder for me to find love. The more I get involved in Jewish life, the less options I have for girls to date. To be honest, it is making me hesitate before becoming more observant.
Increasing Work and Family Harmony
When you get married or live in a committed relationship, particularly when you have children, it can be difficult to balance work and home life. Sometimes these legitimate and competing interests can cause conflict. Here are 5 tips that will help you make home and work harmonious and improve all your relationships:
Single Factor That Builds Relationships
As a seasoned marital professional, I have intimate knowledge of thousands of individuals and their relationship problems. I want to share with you the single factor that towers above all others, which when judiciously applied, determines relationship success or otherwise. That magic ingredient is acceptance.
Can a Pregnant Woman Enter a Cemetery?
I have been told it is generally not the done thing in the Jewish religion to go to a cemetery when pregnant...
Is Wearing a Wig Over Hair Pointless?
Isn't wearing a wig over hair (especially if the Wig is nicer than the hair) pointless?
The Chupah
The Jewish wedding is a holy place. The chupah is a time for deep prayer and introspection.
Ask The Rabbi
Why do we need a rabbi? The internet provides answers to everything! What more can one possibly need?!
Life Existence or Purpose?
When does life actually begin? Conception or birth?
Priorities
Teaching priorities to our children, learning them for ourselves, can be a challenging task. Torah clearly shows us how to prioritize!
Forget About Finding Your Soul Mate
How do you find the 'right' one? Do I have only one soulmate?
To Eat To Pray and To Love
The Three Mitzvot of the Woman are special, holy and spiritual, transcending everyday life
The Gift of Loss: Talking About My Miscarriage
Even though statistics show that many women reading this right now have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, most of these women have not and likely never will publicly address or even mention in private the fact of their miscarriage. Being that this kind of death is a fact of many women's lives, and that silence and shame only exaggerate the pain, I am opening up about my own miscarriage, which occurred a little over two months ago.
Purifying Waters
There is nothing more holy in this world, nothing more precious to the Creator, than the union of a man and a woman. It is, after all, the fountain of life. What could be more precious than life - other than the source from which life comes?
Mazel Tov! A Blessing for Mother and Child
During the Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengan of 5747, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, recalled and discussed an interesting age-old custom which has gone out of style in modern times.
Dear Kallah
It is easier to initially learn the right attitudes and interactions skills than to relearn and retrain herself after she has grown accustomed to various nonproductive patterns.
The Power of Once
I was angry at God at that point in my life. Not only did it seem to me that He had held back the treasures of Judaism till I was forty, it seemed that I also would never get a chance to experience, together with my husband, the beautiful and intimate ritual of mikvah.
Living With Breast Cancer: The Healing Power of Mikvah
One woman's uplifting experience with mikvah after breast cancer...
Full Circle
The mikvah is a beautiful place, filled with spirituality. It represents the chain of generations of Jewish women of which we become another link.
Why I Love The Mikvah
There are so many reasons to love the mikvah (Jewish ritual bath).
I Wanna Hold Her Hand
A friend of mine (an observant Orthodox Jew) told me, that during the time of the month that she and her husband don't touch...
Conflict Resolution Over Challah
I noticed on Friday night at the meal that before you blessed the Challah, you made a small cut...
Honey, I Dont Want Your Money
I recently attended a Chassidic wedding. It was a very different experience.
Understanding the Observant Childbirth Experience
Revised from a lecture given to a team of medical care professionals, this article addresses the often misunderstood behavior of observant couples during their hospital stay for birth and recovery.
The Makings of a Man
It is my bar mitzvah this week. I was told this means I am becoming a man.
The Egg in Exodus
Freedom itself is only half the story. What we do with our freedom - that is the question. We need a purpose in life, and we need a moral, spiritual infrastructure to help guide us
Beyond Rebuke
Sometimes we may feel angry with G-d; it seems as if He has joined forces with Satan. Why does He allow all these terrible misfortunes to befall us?
Life Is A Picture Postcard
We start off young and reckless without a worry in the world and as we get older we realize that life is short.
Wicked Children and Post Modern Parents
One thing I never understood in the Haggadah of Pesach. What's so wise about the Wise Son? He asks his parents, "What are all the laws that our G-d has commanded you?"
Never Too Late To Calculate
A friend of mine called me a little while back. She was married just over a year and mentioned that she had not yet been blessed with a pregnancy.
A Souls Safe Landing
Please G-d we are expecting a baby soon. We know that if it is a boy then we can't tell anyone his name until the Bris. But why?
Trimming the Wild
What is the idea behind leaving a child's hair uncut until the third birthday?
A Word About Chafifa (Preparation for Mikvah Immersion)
Put joy into your mikvah preparations!
Mikvah and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
For many women keeping the laws of mikvah is a terrifying, monumental task. They do not know how to control the compulsive behavior that leads them to obsess over their keeping of this sacred mitzvah.
G-d Likes Positive Thinking
It has been a few hours since the Seudos Hadoah for my husband, Larry, who now wants to be called only by his Jewish name, Aryeh. Almost everyone whom we invited RSVP'd that they were coming...
Why Smash a Glass?
I understand the reason I will be breaking a glass under my foot at the end of the wedding ceremony is to commemorate the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem some 2000 years ago.
The Dating Challenge
Why is dating so hard these days? Never in history have people struggled with relationships so much. So many of my friends are still single and looking.
Are You Mine?
Are You Mine? A Poem on Stillbirth
Early Miscarriage, A Husbands View
It was during our first year of marriage; my wife was three months pregnant, for the first time. We were staying at my parents for Yom Kippur.
Kissing in Public
I have an issue with religious Jews. They have this thing about not showing affection in public. You would never see a very religious couple holding hands walking down the street and certainly not kissing in public, as it is considered immodest.
Romance and the Divine
The Torah calls for a relationship between husband and wife which allows for the fullest expression of their love in a passionate bond. In turn, that relationship and its expression reflect a union above and an awareness which draw the couple together not only physically and emotionally but spiritually as well
Are Men and Women Equal?
I have often heard it said that Judaism believes that women are more spiritual than men. This is supposed to explain why men have more religious obligations than women - men need these things to become closer to G-d, women are there already. But do we really believe that?
Mazel Tov! Its A Girl
Baby girls do not have a bris (circumcision) with its accompanying pomp and festivity. Are they less important? Are we less joyous and thrilled over their birth than over the birth of a baby boy? Not at all...
Modesty; Inner and Essential Beauty
Modesty can only enhance any intimate relationship and bring a couple ever closer in true love and respect for one another.
Mikvah A Fresh Start
Hope always implies change.It is for a change in the status quo that a person "hopes". In particular, hope is sensed strongest when a person finds himself in a desperate situation; when he has hit "rock-bottom".
Another Inspiring Mikvah Story
About six months ago, a young,Observant, non-Lubavitcher woman in my community - who normally does not come to our Chabad house, came to daaven in our Chabad house on a Shabbos morning since her husband missed his regular minyan that had begun at eight o'clock .
Should We Chop Fingers Off?
We had a baby boy and we are very excited. But we are still undecided about the Bris. I have issues with it. I am aware of the spiritual significance of the circumcision, but I have much more practical concerns.
Demand a Little and Give a Lot
Marital relationships blossom when a husband and wife not only tolerate but also celebrate the differences between each other. People need different things in life. Beyond the basics, some people need extra portions of respect, others love, while some people cherish autonomy and independence, etc.
Sunshine
My family is my Home, an everlasting edifice, Built on a strong foundation of Torah and Chassidus. A Jewish Home is special, catching Light from Up Above,
The Mikvah Lady Rules
The mikvah lady rules. For thousands of years, women like Janice Fellner have guided Jewish women through the monthly purification ritual God called for in the Book of Leviticus.
Intimacy Crisis
I think we can all agree that in our world today, in the free world certainly, there is an intimacy crisis. We have a problem with intimacy. We are afraid of intimacy, yet we agonize over the lack of it.
Summer Days
The sun-warmed breeze gently blows all gray clouds away, To reveal a clear and bright blue sky that now is here to stay.
Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov!
A gentle breeze causes the chuppah to sway, The Chosson's head bows, his eyes close to pray. The violin's haunting melody, wafts through the air
Shabbos
I sit at the table, surrounded by all, The silver candlesticks stand so shiny and tall. Father lifts his silver cup, high in his hand, He looks round at us all, and together we stand.
When Moshiach Comes
"When Moshiach comes, what will be?" My small son asks, looking up at me. "Will there be candies on trees so tall, Lollipops, toffees, chocolates and all?"
The Blessing of Elul
The sun rises high each morning, bringing a day so bright and new, Each a special beginning, filled with the promise of all we can do.
Teach a Child
Hashem created this world for His children, for you and for me, See the splendor in His creation, from sea to shimmering sea.
Water
Water - obeying Hashem's command, moving to its' proper place Oceans, rivers, lakes and streams created for love of the human race.
Miracles
Each day holds a miracle, possibly two or even three, They touch us in many ways we may not always see.
Mama
Mama, she tests the word gingerly on her lips, Touches her tummy tenderly, with her fingertips. As she feels that first flutter just beneath her heart,
A Holy Garden
A family is a magnificent garden It must be cultivated with great care, It is the most valuable, holy place A couple may be blessed to share.
The Moon of My Night
Dear Diary, Wonderful news! Do you remember a couple of weeks ago my friend threw a "Good-Bye Party"?
Soup Is The Answer
I admit it. Lots of my friends think there's something wrong with me. They know I love to eat, I love to eat great food, and I'm happiest when I'm eating.
A Mothers Prayer
The chair rocked gently to and fro The rhythm hypnotic and calm, She gazed at the children playing below 'Neath the swaying fronds of palm.
A Mothers Hands
I gazed upon my mother, as she lay so frail and ill, Her hands rested so quietly - they had never been so still.
A Home of the Heart
She glances round the house, at walls now stripped bare She saw outlines of pictures, now no longer there. She thinks of this house and all it has seen
Stop
I was sitting on my front porch. Enjoying the California March sun. I had been under the weather and thought It would be good for me to bask in some warmth.
My Torah
Last week in Shul (Synagogue), I listened to the Torah Reading. At its' conclusion, before the Torah Scroll was rolled...
A World of Good
A gentle, new soul flitted to earth one day. She traveled all around then began to pray, "Hashem please help me, what shall be? There is so much evil - it is all I can see.
The Swan
This happened once upon a time in a tiny, little pen, Where a busy farmer raised a noisy group of red-brown hens.
Her World
My daughter took a paperweight off my husband's desk, It was shaped like a globe, with oceans, countries, and the rest.
Where Is Hashem?
"Where is Hashem?", my little boy asks, looking right up at me. "He is here in your heart, here in my heart and in everything you see..."
Will The Sun Shine Again?
The sky above is heavy and gray; it echoes the pain in my heart. A beautiful life has ended this day, will the sorrow ever depart?
Special Child
A meeting was held far from earth With the angels and G-d above. They said it is time again for another birth This child will need much love.
Safe Harbor
Water. So simple. Un-spectacular and unpretentious.
Marrakesh
"Tomorrow at 11:00?" "Yes, G-d willing, I'll be there," was my response. I was to meet Rabbi M. at his office/Shul.
A Marriage Saved
Years ago, the following story occurred: There was a young couple who had a very unhappy marriage, and they decided to divorce. The wife's Mother, who lived in Eretz Yisroel, was devastated by this decision...
Miracle at Sea
I was in Bangkok, Thailand when, Ronit, my husband's cousin, told me her personal story. Before there was a mikvah in Bangkok, women would have to travel down to the seaside and tovel themselves in the sea.
Jewish Legacy
I was delighted to read the article by Heidi Hass about her Mikvah experience with Bronya Shaffer.
Dear Rebbe: I Have a Story To Tell You
My husband and I have been married for ten years, and six years ago we were blessed with a son. Within a year of our son's birth, cancer was discovered in my husband's kidneys and they had to be removed.
The Beauty of Mikvah
Somehow, I managed to make it through 22 years of marriage before the notion of mikvah (ritual bath), was raised for me. Sure, I knew that married Jewish women went to the mikvah and observed the laws of Taharat Hamishpacha (Family Purity)...
True Self- Sacrifice
In the town of Emmanuel in Eretz Yisroel (Israel), there lived an elderly couple, olim (immigrants) from Russia, who were childless. They lived there for several years, quietly and alone, without any real contact with other members of the community.
A Wonderful Experience
I am not a very religious Jew but I knew I wanted to go to the mikvah before my marriage. I was a bit hesitant but I had some lessons with an incredibly warm and progressive rebbetzin so I was quite excited about it.
Hashem Does His Part
In the many years that my wife and I have been involved in teaching the laws of Family Purity, we have observed many instances of Hashgacha Pratit , Divine Providence.
Mikvah and Me
My husband and I had alot of issues committing to marriage. We had cancelled one wedding and no one could understand why we were still together.
The Icy Mikvah
The Mikvah is the cornerstone of a vibrant Jewish home. It is within the natural waters of the Mikvah that a woman immerses herself monthly, from marriage till menopause, so that a husband and wife can live a full life of intimacy together.
Comments From The Brides
"This was a very enlightening experience. It was a sacred moment for me that I will cherish. I fel like my blessings were truly heard tonight and for that I am thankful!..." Dara
Sharing With Shayna
My daughter, Shayna G.K., was married in 1999. She desired to go the mikvah, for the first time, before her wedding.
Valerie's Story
I didn't go to the mikvah every month. (Few people I know do.) I am content that I went to the mikvah the night before my wedding, no one can ever take that night away from me.
This One Time
My name is Masha. I am 58 years old, and I live in Cape Town, South Africa.
For Seventy Eighty Years a Soul Wears and Tears (My rant)
She asked if I wanted volunteers to help with my special needs child. I said that would be great. She said she has two girls offering to volunteer on Sundays. I said Shabbos would be much better for us.
Myths About Mikvah
The truth is: Any woman who practices the laws of mikvah knows that it is an ELEVATING experience.
About Mikvah
Take a hard look at the number of marriages that begin in love but end in failure, frustration and misery. Nowadays it's hard to believe in "happily ever after."
Why Mikvah?
Why did the Jews at Masada, besieged by the Romans and with precious, few supplies, build and maintain two Mikvaos?
Mikvah Construction
It is both impractical and unhygienic to build a mikvah with a solitary bor (reservoir) of kosher rainwater. One would have to wait until it rained forty se'ah (a volume of measure) in order to refill the mikvah to change the waters.
Understanding Mikvah and the Laws of Family Purity
The world's natural bodies of water- its oceans, rivers, wells, and springfed lakes - are mikvahs in their most primal form. They contain waters of divine source...
Mikvah Facts
A mikvah is a natural body of water or a gathering of water that has a designated connection to natural water. The pool is designed specifically for immersion, according to the rules and customs of Jewish law.
The Construction of the Basi Legani Mikvah
Basi Legani is a unique place - it's the first kosher summer resort to serve the Chicago-area Jewish community. A former campground, it's been upgraded with five brand-new family homes...
A Kosher Mikvah
Have you ever stopped to think what is involved in building and maintaining a kosher mikvah? From the general structure down to the minutia, there are many things which must be considered.
Kosher Waters
What constitutes a kosher mikvah? The word 'mikvah' means 'gathering of waters'.
Experiencing Mikvah
"So" - my beautiful Rebbetzin Channie said to me one day - "Rose, what are we doing special for your 70th birthday - a mitzvah, something special?"
Symphony of Immersion
It has a sound all its own. I have never heard anything like it anywhere else.
A Foundation of Love
The Jewish home is not just an accidental unit where a man, woman, and children live. It is a sacred unit, the quintessential core of Jewish existence, and the wellspring of Jewish values from which a child draws spiritual sustenance for a lifetime.
Entering the Mikvah
It was as scary as anything I'd ever done, and I wasn't sure why. As a Reform Jew, my sense of being commanded by G-d does not come with a set of 613 unambiguous instructions...
The Meaning of Mikvah
I am young, British born and part of a large Jewish family. I work in advertising and have as many non-Jewish friends as Jewish friends.
Rationale Reasons Illuminating Jewish Law
Not infrequently we come across interpretations of Torah precepts in the light of rational thought and scientific discoveries. There has been a division of opinion since Talmudic times on whether one ought to seek to understand...
The Purifying Waters
Is it true only oppressed Orthodox Jewish women use the mikveh? Surprisingly, the feminist stereotype just won't wash.
Living Mikvah
There is nothing more holy in this world, nothing more precious to its Creator, than the union of a man and a woman. It is, after all, the fountain of life.
Taharas Hamishpacha - Inner Meanings
The laws of Taharas Hamishpacha (Family Purity) are an integral part of our religious faith and stemming as they do from our Torah, are not always fully understood by our mortal minds.
Impure Intentions
Attempts to present Jewish religious practices as cruel, harmful or downright evil, alas, are nothing new. Jewish ritual slaughter, circumcision and Shabbat have all, at one time or another, been publicly assailed.
Misunderstanding Mikvah
A more absurd projection of Christian sexual asceticism onto Judaism would be hard to imagine. Think Again First, a confession: I am not a woman.
A Fresh Look At The Mikvah
Once a month, after nightfall, my wife keeps a secret appointment. Neither our neighbors, our friends, nor our children know where she goes, although our children sometimes wonder why she returns an hour or so later with her hair wet.
The Power of A Woman
America is over 200 years old and a lot has happened in the last 200 some odd years. Especially to the Jewish woman.
A Feminist On Mikvah
Let's tackle the question of sexism first; do you sincerely feel that there is no sexism in Jewish life?
Jewish Ritual Bath Makes A Comeback
It's a women's ritual as ancient as the Hebrew scriptures. But in modern times, the concept of visiting a ritual bath - or mikvah - has become as foreign to most Jews as it is to the rest of the population.
Looking Back Moving Forward
Entering menopause: A time of transformation. A new phase of life begins. Invigoration. Inspiration.
My Mikvah Journey
Mikvah-The word evokes a relaxing, spiritual, beautiful image in your mind, for some, it unfortunately evokes a negative, degrading image of how women are treated as 'dirty,' 'impure,' or 'unclean' in Orthodox Judaism.
The Mystique of Mikvah
Genetically, a woman inherits characteristics from her Mother, and she should be proud to do so. The very first Jewish Mother was Sarah Imeinu, and she bequeathed to us...
Thank You Mr Brezhnev
In the 1980s, during the last years of the Brezhnev regime, the Chassidic underground in Russia had yielded a crop of young returnees to Jewish practice.
At My Age
The following is a five part series of correspondence from a woman learning of Mikvah, after menopause, for the first time. Please enjoy this inspirational exchange and follow her journey of discovery.
A Modern Setting for An Ancient Ritual
It was August of 1994 and I was leading a kosher tour in Scandinavia; it was summer but we could already feel the bite of fall.
The Ritual Bath
Not too many modern Jews are fully acquainted with the many rules and regulations set forth in Halacha (Code of Jewish Law).
Revelations of Rachel
With all of America reading books by the experts on topics ranging from "How to Keep a Happy Parakeet" to "Total, Unequaled...
Taking the Spiritual Dive
I began my married life with a non-Jewish husband, an ambitious nature, a college degree, and a bit of an attitude.
Love, Marriage and Mikvah
Before we discuss Jewish insights into the very private world of intimacy, we need to free ourselves of some non-Jewish notions about the topic.
A Message of Blessing for Mother and Child
During the Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen, 5747, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, recalled and discussed an interesting custom that has been forgotten in modern times.
Jewish Perspectives on the Birthing Experience
A labor and delivery nurse concludes her report of a newly-delivered primigravida with the following comments: "I have some real concerns...
Lights at the End of the Tunnel
By the time I reached my early thirties, I felt my biological clock pounding away as I searched for a suitable husband. I was so relieved to get married at the age of 36, and assumed that I would get pregnant almost immediately.
Divine Labor
It is written in Torah about the Hebrew women in Egypt, "For they are like midwives, before the midwife comes to them, they have given birth." (Exodus 1:19)
Shir Hamalos
As expectant women approach their due dates a variety of emotions tend to surface. Some women are filled with excitement, anxiously anticipating the day that they will meet their baby face to face.
Advice to an Expectant Mother
So, you're pregnant. Mazel Tov! I'm flattered to be asked and please, feel free to call or write anytime for advice.
The Art of Baby Naming
My wife has entered the seventh month of pregnancy, and we have started discussing names for our baby. She wants something traditional but...
Happy Birthday!
We are a holy nation of holy people. With every breath we take and every action we do, we can express our spiritual greatness. Birth, especially, is a very elevating experience, and is, in many ways, a lot like Pesach (Passover).
Birth of A Jewish Child
Many couples have accepted the custom of announcing a pregnancy after the mother enters the fifth month. It does not apply to sharing the news in confidentiality with immediate family.
A Jewish Education Begins at Birth
Visual images have great impact on man's mind: What one sees can leave lasting impressions for good or bad.[1] Viewing sacred objects or images has positive benefits;[2] pictures of impure animals harm[3] the mind and soul.
Beautiful, Beautiful Baby Day
April 11, 2006 - two days before Passover. I loaded my grocery cart with Matzoh, wine, grape juice, ground walnuts, romaine lettuce, eggs, Kosher salt - the essentials.
The Spirits Journey to Motherhood
At my baby shower, my friend Sveta pats my bulging belly: "Oh, let me touch the baby," she says wistfully, "and maybe I can catch this wonderful virus of pregnancy." After years of infertility and painful, expensive medical procedures, she is still not able to conceive. Diagnosis: unknown.
Surviving Emotionally
Now that you have experienced a pregnancy loss, you are probably feeling more sadness then you ever thought possible. The emotional impact often takes longer to heal than the physical impact. Allowing yourself to grieve the loss can help you come to accept it over time.
My Mikvah Baby
I am a Jew, but I am not religious. I light candles Friday night, but don't keep Shabbat. I don't eat pork, but I mix dairy and meat. I don't know the Hebrew prayers, but I speak to G d.
Jewish Population Control
The Torah speaks of the enslavement and bitter bondage of the Israelites in Egypt. In spite of the back-breaking oppression, the hardship and humiliation, the Jewish people would be forged in the fiery furnace of exile.
Do You Wish Mazel Tov?
I just found out that a friend is pregnant. She is quite observant so I want to do the right thing. Is it appropriate to say Mazal Tov to a pregnant woman?
Can A Soul Be Miscarried
I suffered a miscarriage recently. While I am thankful for the beautiful children I have, I still feel a sense of loss for the child that I will never know. Is there some kabbalistic explanation for why these things happen?
The Truth Is
Fourteen years ago I gave birth to a baby girl. Four hours later she died because of an internal malformation that was undetectable during my pregnancy.
From A Medical Perspective
It was November 2003 when Mara Barth's home pregnancy test revealed the happy news: She and her husband, Jeff, were going to have a baby. But just six weeks into her pregnancy, Mara, then 33, began having cramps followed by some light bleeding.
On The Path To Healing
By Divine Providence, the deadline for this article fell on the anniversary of my own miscarriage three years ago. I planned it, wrote and rewrote the article in my head, revising it for months.
A Mother Without A Child
I had it really easy growing up. I come from a loving family, with wonderful parents and great friends. I graduated with honors, attended an Ivy League university and landed a prestigious job as soon as I finished.
Torahs Viewpoint on Pregnancy Loss
Every part of our lives, from the happiest moments to the terribly unfortunate ones, is recognized by the Torah, G-d's life script of infinite wisdom. The Torah prescribes instructions which help guide our attitudes, our responses and our behaviors for all of life.
Ask A Child
As I walk through the hallways of our preschool and peek into the classrooms I am always amazed by the sense of confidence that our children seem to have.
Songs of Innocence
I have a confession to make: My spiritual mentor is not a rabbi, or a teacher, or a scholar. You might say he is a spiritual guide of a more unconventional sort.
From Here To Eternity
Its always seemed to me that the discussion of conception and child-bearing is an intensely private one, one to be held primarily between husband and wife.
A Time to Be Silent
The most important gift we can give our children is self-esteem. Research has shown over and over again that children who have a positive self-image are able to go out and take on the world.
Monster Dreams
"Mommy, Mommy!" Sobbing loudly, Naomi ran into my bedroom in the middle of the night, for the fourth time that week. A recurring nightmare kept waking her from her sleep.
Composing A Torah Life
When I was asked what events brought Judaism into the equation of my life, I began the process of composing my life story, retracing my steps to pull together all the seemingly disjointed threads, for storytelling is fundamental to the search for meaning.
The Torah Outlook On Family Planning
Parshas Nasso touches on one of the most disturbing issues facing our generation. The portion mentions the testing of a Sotah, a woman suspected of adultery.
Let Kids Be Kids
How to teach today's precocious kids values...How to prepare them for the adult world without treating them as adults...How to command respect while respecting them as well...
Why Is Torah Law So Restrictive of Contact Between the Sexes?
I understand that Torah law forbids all physical contact between a man and a woman -- or even for them to be alone in a room together -- unless they are first-degree relatives or married to each other.
Temper, Temper
What do I do when my five-year-old gets angry? He becomes furious and aggressive when he doesn't get what he wants.
The View From My Child's Window
As parents we know more than our children. We are older and wiser. We have more experience and this experience often makes us more practical, smarter in the ways of the world.
Bris Milah - Circumcision
A Jew is commanded to circumcise his son on the eighth day after his birth, when his faculty of reason is not yet developed. This aspect signifies that a Jew is bound and committed to G-d at the earliest opportunity, in an absolute and all comprehensive way that transcends his reason and perception.
Naming A Child
In general, the giving of a name should be looked upon as a great responsibility that involves serious consideration by the parents. In many places in Kabbalah and Chassidus it is explained...
Pidyon Haben - Redemption of a First Born Male
G-d originally designated the firstborn as those who would carry out the priestly duty in the Mishkan (Sanctuary). Shortly after receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, the Jewish people collectively committed idolatry by serving the Golden Calf.
Motherhood, A New Philosophy
This article will examine the prevalent issues and controversies and the necessity for a new philosophy on babies, motherhood and life in general.
Sacrificial Lamb Anyone?
"Sacrifice" is not a word one hears very often these days. It seems to pretty much have fallen out of our lexicon. It has a negative ring to it, like giving up something precious or losing out on something big. Nobody is getting in line to be the "sacrificial lamb." It simply has a bad vibe to the modern ear.
The Magic Pill for At Risk Behavior
I know how badly parents want to find the pill to cure their teenager's at-risk behavior. In fact, most parents wished there was a magic pill they or their children could take and the problems would somehow go away.
Fear of the Darkness
Our five year old is an only child who has been a difficult sleeper since birth and has developed a severe fear of the dark. Every night she wakes up crying, saying she's had a bad dream.
Morning Blessings
I've been noticing recently that my husband is taking a few more minutes to recite Birchas Hashachar (morning blessings). Of course, he has good reason for the extra concentration.
Dying To Be Thin
Your daughter seems to be losing too much weight lately. She has become more finicky about food and hardly eats in your presence.
Raising Children in Harmony
Marriage is for growth. By its very nature your marriage will continuously give you opportunities to develop your character. The more challenging one's marriage, the greater the growth possibilities.
My Favorite Rashi
Living, as he did, in a town with 40 churches and no operating synagogue, I would imagine my stepfather was the only man around with his favorite Rashi.
Not So Great - Expectations
I wind little tendrils of wet, blonde hair around my fingers, making curls as I go. Perfect little circles make a golden halo. Finally, I have created my masterpiece - a head full of ringlets.
Is It Bad Behavior or Behavior Disorder?
This is the first in a series of six articles that we hope will be helpful in guiding you, the reader, in your decisions about what might be driving a child's behavior.
Focus the Energy
This is the second in a series of six articles that we hope will be helpful in guiding you, the reader, in your decisions about what might be driving a child's behavior.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
This is the third in a series of six articles that we hope will be helpful in guiding you, the reader, in your decisions about what might be driving a child's behavior.
The Behaviour Disorder No One Wants to Talk About
This is the fourth in a series of six articles that we hope will be helpful in guiding you, the reader, in your decisions about what might be driving a child's behavior.
Simcha Breaks The Barriers
Can you remember the last time you had a thoroughly hearty belly laugh? You know, the kind that has you laughing so hard you feel as if your sides could split?
With Woman, With Life
'Midwife' is a word in old German meaning 'with woman'. Historically, as well as today, it categorizes a specific profession in medicine.
The Key to Effective Communication
Cell phones, text messaging, emails and all that instant messaging, while created to enhance communication, they have yet to result in more effective interpersonal relationships.
On the Eighth Day
I rush to the hospital to see both mother and newborn baby. To be perfectly honest, I focus much attention on The Baby once I have checked that the new mother is doing well, feeling the way a brand new mother usually feels.
The Jewish Woman - A Torah View
While I was growing up in the suburbs of America, I never actually knew any Orthodox people, but somehow, I "knew" all about them. A friend, while driving past the home of one of the few observant families in our town, once authoritatively commented that Orthodox people are "dirty and unkempt."
Do Women Have Something To Hide?
Why does Judaism command women to keep their bodies covered? Is there something shameful or evil about a woman's body? Why should a woman have to hide herself just so others shouldn't be tempted?
The Balancing Act
We were so excited to reach that day - college graduation - the world was awaiting our valuable contributions, our youthful energy and idealism. We were poised for success as we left the gates of the Ivy League campus.
CEO of the EU (Entire Universe)
Once again, I had the awesome privilege of participating in the birth of a new grandchild. My daughter, who is one of the emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, OBM, in Milan, Italy, came to visit us in L.A...
Who's The Boss?
When my daughter doesn't get her way, she bothers me until she causes a scene. At home I just send her to her room. But when we're out shopping I usually give in to her, just to quiet her down. How can I get her to behave when we go out?
Raising Eco Conscious Children
Life has so many blessings; what's often missing is our mindfulness, taking pause to recognize and appreciate them.
Parenting In A Difficult World
Ever since a tragic accident (r"l) in my community, I have become very concerned about my children's safety.
Sholom's First Haircut
This past Monday, our son Sholom turned three years old and got his very first haircut. Although, our morning routine will be now be one step shorter...
Its A Girl
Why don't we do a "Sholom Nekeiva" (lit. welcome female) upon the birth of a girl, as we do a Sholom Zochor for a baby boy?
Do I Really Need Counselling?
I've been having a problem and someone I respect suggested I get professional help. I don't like the idea of telling my problems to a stranger, and I don't see what good it would do.
Beginnings: New Opportunities
It was the evening before the first day of school, and I had a conversation with my 7th grade son, Ari. Together, we looked back at his last school year and thought about the changes he could make in his behavior so that this new year would be even better.
Does G-d Have A Feminine Side?
Why is G-d always referred to in the male gender? We call Him our Father, our King, and always a "He". Surely G-d is not a man. Why does Judaism perpetuate this patriarchal male dominance?
Relationships With A Capital R
We all have relationships at various levels. There are shallow ones. And there are deeper ones. Then there are 'Covenantal' ones. What's a 'Covenantal' relationship? It's an attitude that takes relationships to a whole new level.
Flickering Between Two Worlds
My 13 year-old is an excellent student and loves to read, but that's all he wants to do! READ! I haven't been able to interest him in any sports or activities outside the house.
Bridges
I can understand why someone would want to be a rock. Or, for that matter, an island. After all, a rock feels no pain and an island never cries. The thick psychological walls, the hearing-without-listening and speaking-without-communicating, seem to be helpful coping skills.
Taking Charge
The successful education and guidance of children requires an effective strategy. A successful strategy can be broken into three components; goals, motivation, and techniques.
Effective Team Parenting
Children always have parents, regardless if the parents are married, separated or divorced. As parents, it is a major responsibility to raise our children to become healthy adults...
The Shiny Project
Saturday night, December 13th, the 17th of Kislev, my daughter, Adelle Shayna went home to HaShem. Adelle Shayna's entire existence is a remarkable one.
Everyday Blessings
A dear friend of mine out in the blogosphere lost her battle with cancer recently. She was in a lot of pain, but she wanted to defeat it and go on living.
The Eternal Covenant
A Bris is a covenant and through the millennia, Jews have kept this mitzvah like no other and have thereby maintained their eternal covenant with G-d. There were times when giving one's son a bris was punishable by death.
The Marshmallow Mentsch
Part of the make-up of the mentsch is the power of self-discipline. A characteristic of our ideal human being is the ability to make decisions based not only on expected short-term satisfaction but also with a view to the long-term.
Why We Keep Kosher
The Torah's dietary laws are quite specific. Animals must chew their cud and have split hooves to be kosher, fish need fins and scales, and a list of forbidden fowl is enumerated.
Kabbalistic Help for Tantrums
I am having major problems with my two year old. He has huge tantrums and is impossible to control. We are going crazy and don't know what to do. Is there some Kabbalistic formula to get a child to behave?
Hearing Emotions
If I had to condense our overarching goal of preschool into a single sentence it would be to encourage our children to value their thoughts and feelings and to use them to make active choices that will allow them to lead a fulfilling life.
The Three Mitzvot of the Woman
There are three mitzvaot that are especially sacred to the Jewish woman. These are: Shabbat Candles, Lighting, Challah, and Taharat Hamishpacha (Family Sanctity).
On The Essence of Spiritual Impurity
One of the most widely misunderstood concepts in the Torah are contained in the words tumah and taharah. Translated as "unclean" and "clean," or "impure" and "pure,"
What To Do With A Stale Mate
"Nothing new under the sun," wrote King Solomon in Ecclesiastes. According to the Torah, infidelity and other marital problems aren't exactly a new societal phenomenon.
Wellsprings
Judaism is very realistic in its understanding of human sexuality. It understands there is love between men and women that is unique and total, that reaches fulfillment in physical expression.
The Wedding Gift
The month of Elul is an auspicious month that precedes the High Holy days of Rosh Hashono (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
Eternal Harmony
While standing under the chuppa, what couple doesn't hope for eternal shalom bayis, lasting marital harmony? The partners fervently pray that they should feel as good about each other in the many years of their upcoming life together as they do on their wedding day.
Whom To Marry
A wise man once said that the most difficult question to answer is a question that has a simple answer.
The Wedding Day
The Jewish home is considered a replica of the Beit Hamikdosh, the Holy Temple which stood in Jerusalem, and which, G-d willing, will quickly be rebuilt with the coming of Moshiach. Every aspect of the Temple was holy, for the spirit of Hashem, G-d, was manifest there.
Choosing A Mate
Avrohom decided to send his trustworthy disciple and right-hand man, Eliezer, to find a suitable wife for Yitzchok. The modern mind finds it difficult to understand why Yitzchok agreed to allow Eliezer to choose a wife for him. Is this a matter in which one can rely on others?
Woman, Man and Fire
Some of our sages probe not only the words of the Torah, but each individual letter as well. The foremost exponent of this method was Rabbi Akiba. It was he who taught: "If husband and wife are deserving, G-d's Presence dwells in their midst. If they are not deserving, fire devours them."
The Marriage Disciplines
Total renunciation of sex is, in some faiths, a major discipline. In his autobiography, Gandhi calls this brahmacharya and praises its power of spiritual ennoblement. The Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches, as well as some eastern religions, require celibacy in certain holy orders.
Lifesource: Sholom Bayis The Lifesource of a Jewish Relationship
A relationship, whether with a good friend, a sibling, a parent or especially a spouse, is alive only as long as life is breathed into it.
The Life Long Marriage
Going through life with a spouse that we love is one of the greatest satisfactions in life. A small percentage of us have a natural gift for it -- the rest of us have to learn it.
Love At Second Sight
Why are so many marriages failures? And why do so many fail so soon after the wedding? We read about the first shidduch (match) in history. Abraham sends his trusted servant, Eliezer, to find a wife for his son Isaac.
Understanding Childhood Influences
Somewhere, sometime, you were a child. That is an obvious fact, universally acknowledged, yet frequently ignored or forgotten.
Taking Monotony Out of Monogamy
What is as holy as Yom Kippur, more spiritual than meditating and the best thing you can do for your love life? You may not believe it, but the answer is THE MIKVAH - the ancient Jewish method guiding the intimate relationship between husband and wife.
Ladies First
Even in this day and age, most women graciously accept the traditional "ladies first" rule, whether it's getting off a sinking ship or going through a ballroom doorway.
Tzimtzum
In the beginning, a simple divine light filled the entirety of existence... When there arose in His simple will the desire to create the worlds, He contracted His light, withdrawing it to the sides and leaving a void and an empty space in its center, to allow for the existence of the worlds.
Chana Womans Three Mitzvos
Both man and woman are obliged to fulfill G-d's mitzvos (precepts). The man is obligated to perform all 613 commandments.
Marriage, Custodian of the Future
A great Sage, Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel, in "Ethics of the Fathers", prescribed a formula for the existence of the world. He said: "The world exists on three things: Truth, Justice and Peace."
Womens Rights
Do women occupy a position in Judaism inferior to men? Does Torah and the lifestyle it mandates discriminate against women?
Why Conflicts Escalate
How do seemingly innocent interactions, the so-called 'harmless arguments', escalate into serious conflicts? Arguments sometimes evolve from small things that grew big
Creative Problem Solving
Which is more beset by problems: a new marriage where so much has to be negotiated and jointly decided, or a long-standing marriage stressed by life's complex nature?
Beautiful Wedding, Holy Marriage
This Sunday is my third wedding anniversary. This Saturday night is the third anniversary of my first Mikvah immersion.
Cultivating Your Emotional IQ I
A good start in cultivating emotional sensitivity is by listening to what your spouse is saying. If he claims to be feeling overwhelmed, nervous, excited or upset, you can safely trust him to be expressing true emotions.
Cultivating Your Emotional IQ II
One person alone can make a major impact on any relationship. A marriage is like a seesaw: even when only one partner initiates change, it effects the other.
Shidduch Crisis
When I was a kallah (bride), a friend of my husband-to-be asked me to introduce him to one of my friends in Boston, where we all were at that time.
Cultivating Your Emotional IQ III
Recent psychological research has revealed that there is a vast difference in styles of communication between men and women. The great differences in how men and women communicate, very popular in recent research, was recognized by our Sages long ago.
Doctor Phil - NOT
We have never attended a couple's retreat. We do not have a therapist. We have never had a his & hers spa day. We've never even watched an episode of "Dr. Phil."
My Wedding Haircut
Quietly I sat reading tehillim (psalms), with a handful of nickels and a small wooden pushka (charity box), as my hairdresser twirled my thick, beautiful curls into an updo. A bit distracted by the imminence of my upcoming wedding,
How Do You Find Your Soulmate?
An often asked question, it is one laden with assumptions, misconceptions and truly good intentions.
Uncovering the Oneness
Everybody loves a wedding. The love, the excitement, the heartfelt anticipation of a deep and lasting bond. When we speak about the beauty of marriage, we speak of deep commitment and selfless, unconditional love. But what does that really mean?
The Five Spices of Married Life
Here's a short quiz...What's is the best way to raise healthy children: A. Build their self-esteem? B. Give them lots of hugs and kisses?
Meaning Of Hair Covering
I heard an anthropologist talking about shaitels (wigs). He said how ironic it is that observant Jewish women wear wigs. In biblical Judaism, the rule was that married women should cover their hair in order to be modest and unattractive.
Buttons of Love
When a husband and wife give gifts to one another in a spirit of friendship it creates between them feelings of camraderie, affection and closeness. Giving includes a full range of behaviors from giving a material gift to giving the gift of kindness and everything in-between.
How To Escape a Boring Marriage
I have a good marriage. But I'm bored of my wife, and she is bored of me.
The Dance of Love
At Jewish weddings I've seen this dance where people stand facing each other in two lines, and then run towards each other and meet in the middle, then run backwards to their original places, only to do it all over again.
Boy Meets Girl
My best friend just got engaged after only a month and a half of dating. She met the guy through the Jewish dating system, a Shidduch, and they are an amazingly well-suited couple.
Can You Test Drive a Marriage?
I liked your take on traditional Jewish dating, and can see some of its advantages over modern dating. But one thing doesn't make sense. In traditional circles, you only live together after marriage.
Date At Your Own Risk
I've found myself going out on many many dates and I'm wondering if I'm being too fussy. I'm waiting to meet someone and get a good feeling about him, and of course have things in common, good chats, and similar long term goals.
A Brides Biggest Fear
I am getting married in a few weeks and am really excited. But I have this crazy fear that something will go wrong, like I will trip under the Chuppah and the whole structure will collapse on our heads.
When A Couple Drifts Apart
There is a common misconception about relationships. Many people think that if I meet the right person, things will all go smoothly from there. If a relationship is bumpy, if we need to put effort in to make it work, it must be the wrong relationship.
Ways to Make Your Marriage Happy
When a husband and wife give gifts to one another in a spirit of friendship it creates between them feelings of comradery, affection and closeness. Giving includes a full range of behaviours from giving a material gift to giving the gift of kindness and everything in-between.
The Art of Listening
Thereare two main reasons people go to professional counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. One reason is to solve a particular difficulty in their lives that is causing them emotional pain. The other is simply to have someone listen.
The Science of Marriage
Marital researchers can predict with an 80-85% accuracy which couples will divorce based on self-reporting information about themselves and their partner.
Holy Matrimony
Picture the scene. A young man announces his engagement and arrives at the synagogue to book his wedding. The rabbi discovers that he is a kohen and his fiance is a divorcee, convert, someone previously married out of the faith, or perhaps the daughter of a non-Jewish father.