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Children

  1. Tikvah (Hope) in the Mikveh

    While it hasn’t always been easy, I’ve spent most of my married life attending the local mikveh in my small town.

    Originally published on the Mayyim Hayyim Blog 11/13/2013

  2. Eating With Intention

    Keeping a kosher home can enhance a family’s experience of Judaism; it can become a meaningful expression of eating with intention.

    Originally published on Matan Kids 3/30/2016

  3. Will You Love My Son?

    I suppose it’s every mother’s dream and nightmare all tied together in one shiny package: that one day someone might love her son (insert “daughter” here if it applies!) enough to capture his heart. We worry that our son might return this person’s affections, loving us a bit less, or a bit differently.

    Originally published by The Ruderman Foundation 11/20/2014

  4. 5 Ways to Raise a Jew-By-Choice

    Remember those peanut butter commercials from the 90’s that told us “choosy moms choose Jif”? What does it mean to be “choosy”? Choice is not just about having options; it’s about exploring, engaging, and eventually committing to something that is meaningful.

    Originally published on Kveller 6/10/2016

  5. Why I’ll Send My Son with Fragile X to School on Sukkot

    I am sending my 5-year-old son to school on the holy days of Sukkot. It will be the first time we’ve ever done this, and the decision is killing me.

    Originally published on Kveller 10/14/2016

  6. How Headphones Literally Saved My Son with Fragile X During a Family Outing

    We got out of our car at the aquarium, and before we even reached the entrance, I knew we had made a mistake.

    Originally published on Kveller 1/3/2017

  7. What a Candle, Spice Box, and Grape Juice Can Really Do for Your Family

    I’ve always been a big believer in the family Shabbat experience. In our family, we light Shabbat candles together every Friday night in our dining room (a room our boys so rarely eat or play in that they actually call it the “Shabbat room” since that’s what we do there). We sing “Shabbat Shalom” and give high fives and kisses to everyone.

    Originally published on Kveller 12/18/2015

  8. My Son Has Fragile X Syndrome–And a Surprising Connection to Prayer

    When my son wakes up in the morning, he immediately asks for two things. First, he needs his chart, a small white board with two strips of Velcro and tiny laminated pictures that he organizes with his morning routine. Second, he needs his “benscher book,” the once-beautiful-now-torn-and-chewed-and-duct-taped book of Jewish songs and prayers that we gave to guests at our wedding long before our son was a twinkle in my eye.

    Originally published on Kveller 2/26/2015

  9. Fragile X Awareness

    In our world of parenting a child with special needs, all you have to do is say "Holland" and everyone knows you are dealing with challenging days and lost dreams.

    Originally published in the Jewish Week 7/2/2014

  10. Don't Mourn the End of Summer

    The conversations I’ve been hearing lately all seem to sound the same:

    How was your summer? Nice, but too fast! I know! I can’t believe summer’s already over!

  11. Singing in the Car

    An era ends, and I'm sad, terribly sad. But also so very grateful for the incredible community and the wonderful experiences we have shared as a family.

  12. Shabbatoween 2014: Keeping it Neighborly and Making it Jewish

    How do I undo what I've done to Halloween? I don't want him to participate in trick-or-treating, but there should be joy in helping others to celebrate their holidays (like wishing other people a Merry Christmas). Perhaps it's time to start a new Halloween tradition -- even in this rabbi's home.