I am sitting in my home in Yerushalayim, reflecting on the last few weeks. I spent a meaningful Yamim Nora’im, which is BIG. I used to struggle tremendously around this time of year. BH for that! Sukkos was of course crazy and overwhelming with the kids jumping around, not allowing…

I wrote the following viduy for myself in place of my machzor. I wanted to share it with you and if you feel it may benefit others, please share. To my dearest Your name, your essence, is malchus. You are the queen of mothers, connected, powerful, loving. You and I…

The saddest day, Tears and emotions are now okay. In groups or alone, They’re tapping into the meaning, Trying to understand galus is what they are acheiving. For me, it’s not that way, Today is like the reg, the norm, Just with permission to be openly forlorne. You see, for me, Every day is tisha baav, No need to go to Eicha to feel the pain, I stare this in the face every single day. Pain. So deep, raw, real,

Here hope is real So open and feel The pain inside I hide I hide. So sweet and innocent sitting in my chair But when he blew up it was such a scare I can see it now oh so vividly But I did not know what it did to me…

As a professional baker, the sight of my dough double in size is one that sparks joy for me every time I bake. Watching bread pouf up in the oven gives me a feeling of satisfaction. An indication of a good product or at least being on the right track…

To be Bisimcha doesn’t mean to be happy. — it’s means experiencing. shleimus. To be complete. It’s not possible to always be happy. If you are — it’s fake. You’re not being real with yourself. Shlemius means feeling the full range of emotions. Even tishabav is called a Moed! It…

Many a curious time, I pondered the miracle of the tree, How from a tiny, corruptible seed, She blossoms so undauntingly. Long before her branches show, The seedling grows her way, Into a firmly rooted, unbreakable core, Strong and free of sway. When at last her branches grow, And blossom green with life, No rain, no storm, no howling wind, Can destroy her in the strife. When the inevitable storms do lash out,

one of pause and inner grace A path to mend the soul, A quest for a safer place. It begins with self-reflection, and readiness to grow. The will to face the fears, And allowing the wounds to show. It’s about learning to live freely, with an open and loving heart Listening to your inner voice, And embracing a fresh new start, I know that healing is a process, It needs time, courage, and fight, patience, gentleness, and grit.

NAVIGATING CONFLICT AND CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR Fresh Start Alumni Webinar with Dr. Stuart Ablon Ph.D. and Rabbi YY Jacobson Compiled by Rabbi Yanky Goldstein M.Ed. Children do well when they can. When a child exhibits a challenging behavior, he is usually lacking skill, not will, to do better. Oftentimes, children aren’t…