Korczak’s Children

May 5, 2005

Janusz Korczak was a Polish Jewish educator who ran an orphanage in the Warsaw Ghetto just prior to its liquidation in 1942. His story is at once tragic and courageous. Given the chance to escape the ghetto, Korczak chose to stay with his children, ultimately perishing along with them at Treblinka. “Korczak’s Children” is also […]

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The Magic of Pesach

April 22, 2005

Pesach is probably the most magical of Jewish holidays. And that really bugs the heck out of me! Before we go any further: here’s a spoiler alert: just like in a movie review, if you don’t want to know too much about the way I really think about some of the more obscure Pesach traditions, […]

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Three Minutes

April 14, 2005

I admit it: I’m a bit obsessive compulsive. No surprise to regular readers of this column. When I set out to make a purchase – whether it’s a new piece of computer equipment or a vacation – I more often than not spend days doing research on the Internet, talking to anyone and everyone I […]

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No News is the Best News

April 7, 2005

Merav is out of the hospital and feeling a bit better. That should be cause for celebration. So why do I feel so confused? These past weeks – how many has it been, six already? – have been pure hell. For us and for our extended families. Eleven-year-old Merav has probably been the least affected. […]

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Weekend Furlough

March 28, 2005

After weeks of illness that had baffled pediatricians, surgeons and specialists across the city, our family doctor said, with no small amount of resignation, we had no option left other than to check eleven-year-old Merav into the hospital. Hospitalization is a big deal, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It means that you essentially have […]

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Cake Effect

March 23, 2005

It’s been a tough three weeks. Eleven-year-old Merav came down with terrible stomach cramps…then developed a rash and proceeded to turn yellow. A series of blood tests, ultrasounds and even a liver scan had the mostly baffled doctors ruling out appendicitis, hepatitis, and a score of other itis’s, but to date they still have no […]

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Rice Milk Crisis

March 10, 2005

“What, no rice milk?” I asked Jody as I helped her unload the groceries after a recent trip to the supermarket. I had immediately noticed the bags seemed lighter than usual. “They were all out,” Jody said, almost apologetically. “Harumph,” I muttered, trying to be flip about the matter but barely concealing my disappointment. Rice […]

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Why Aren’t You a Winner?

March 3, 2005

Steve, an entrepreneur friend of mine in Jerusalem, met recently with an Israeli venture capitalist concerning funding for Steve’s new company. The two discussed the market, the company’s technology and promise. Eventually, they got down to Steve’s work history which included several startups that had trudged along but never really hit the big time. The […]

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Three Falafels and a Mortgage

February 17, 2005

We’ve got some good news: we bought a house. Yes, after 10 years of renting in Israel and seven before that in California, Jody and I have finally joined the ranks of the home owners. There’s only one thing still in the way: Getting a mortgage. Since we never had to apply for a home […]

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The AIDS Test

February 17, 2005

Dr. Michael arrived at half past ten in the morning on a rainy winter day wearing a gray overcoat, a long-since fashionable paisley pullover sweater vest, and a big black case. He sat down across from me at my kitchen table and rifled through a wad of official looking papers. Dr. Michael is a traveling […]

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