Purim And The Tyranny Of Beauty: A Plea to Mothers of Girls in Shidduchim
I know I’m going to be crucified, but if the appeal I make below helps even one girl in shidduchim, then it will be worth all the fury and outrage that shall inevitably descend upon my soon-to-be beleaguered head.
Rules, Rules, Rules: Are There Some Rules To Live By?
On a much more serious note, Judaism prescribes many rules that we follow that involve both moral and religious codes.
Surviving Bullying, Silencing And Torment For Being Gay In The Frum Community
It’s been more than six months since The Jewish Press published an op-ed titled “Orthodox Homosexuals and the Pursuit of Self Indulgence.” In the article, the writer, while not mentioning my name, calls me shameless and self-indulgent and suggests that I learn to suffer in silence.
I Don’t Want To Marry A ‘Learning’ Boy
When there is someone who leans toward one group, but doesn’t tick every box, people may still encourage them to accept the label in order to expedite the dating process.
Decoding Sensory Processing Disorder
There is always a lot of confusion surrounding sensory processing disorder – mainly because there are many different diagnoses that fall under the catch-all phrase sensory processing disorder (SPD). Among them are three specific subcategories:
A Letter From A Mother In Pain
What follows is story of a regular family and a tragedy that unfolded while we were not looking.
So Your Daughter Is Home From Seminary… Now What?
When asked about concerns they have about returning home after their year, one of the most popular responses is something like, “I am dreading all the questions about my skirts and sleeve length."
You Just Received A Hazmana – A Summons To Beis Din: What Do You...
Since most women do not have a clue what to do when they receive a hazmana, we will try to allay the fears they might have.
Decoding PDD And NVLD: Understanding The Alphabet of Disabilities
Kids with NVLD are very verbal and often do not have academic problems until they get to the upper grades in school.
The Healthy Divorce
On average each couple will have between 4-6 sessions with a week to ten days between sessions.
The Road Map To A Happy Marriage
Creating direction in a marriage is similar to going on a long journey. To get to where you want to go, you need to have a plan that includes directions, supplies and the ability to navigate along the way. You will also have to be prepared for many possible factors that may interfere with your trip, including wind, rain, unpredictable mechanical breakdown and human error. Most importantly you will need a map to guide and help reorient you in case you lose your way.
Picture Imperfect – A Group of Shadchanim Is Pushing to Get Rid of Photos...
While we are visual beings, and it is natural to want to see how the person looks, the problem is that when you see the picture before you meet the person, you create a single image of who the person is.
Chronicles Of Crises In Our Communities
A Female Member of the Satmar Community in Williamsburg takes Deborah Feldman to task for her allegations in a recent newspaper interview…
Getzlight – Chapter 1
I read in a magazine that the secret to marital harmony is having separate bathrooms. All my woman stuff that littered the medicine cabinet and sink counter– you know, the tubes and creams and make-up – well, they grated on his nerves.
Gila Manolson: A Response to Yitta Halberstam’s Plea to Mothers of Girls in Shidduchim
Don't worry, Yitta, I'm not going to crucify you, as you feared. I actually agreed with the gist of your article, which was obviously heartfelt and well-intended. I just want to point out where you crossed a line...
Eight Stages, Two Paths: Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages Of Development
The eight stages are usually by age (though in some cases the ages are fluid).
The Intensity of Gifted Children: Pros And Cons
You aren’t given a manual when you have a child and there’s no survival guide to tell you what to do.
Dear Dr. Yael
Divine providence had led me to a place I needed to be, the place I belonged.
It’s Alright To Cry
We avoid difficult conversations, we react with anger, and we eat our feelings without knowing why.
Dear Dr. Yael
I always say that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. If we can all learn how to parent effectively, then this world would be a better place.
Homeschooling On The Rise In Orthodox Community
For many children, going to school involves spending their mornings and afternoons traveling to their destination amid classmates and chatter on a large yellow bus. But for a growing number of children all around the world, the process of getting an education may involve no commuting at all.
Divorce Is Not An Epidemic: Couples Underprepared For Marriage Is
“Why don’t they tell us this stuff before we get married?”
Demystifying Learning Disabilities: Empowering Students
Meet Noam, a ninth grader I worked with several years ago. Noam came to my office because he was struggling with his biology curriculum. Though Noam was extremely smart, he had ADHD, which made it hard for him to focus on all of the material presented during class. Before we even looked at the material together, I asked Noam how he learned best. His face was blank as he responded, “Um, Mrs. Schonfeld, I really am not sure.”
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach: Make Men More Mature Rather than Send Girls Under the Knife
Is this what three thousand and three hundred years of Jewish tradition has come to, that a nation that has always dared to walk alone, with different ideals and values from the wider culture, should so fully capitulate to the most corrupt, misogynistic values, that we would advocate that our young women have plastic surgery in order to get married?
Without Saying A Word: Nonverbal Communication For Children And Adults
In any relationship, the words that people say are extremely significant, but it is the unspoken language of friendship that truly allows relationships to flourish and grow.
Shidduchim: What To Look For In A Spouse
If you are stuck in a traffic jam, how does your date respond to the frustration of being late?
Prison Without Walls: Understanding Asperger’s Syndrome
She was moody and remote, absorbed in her books. She did well in school with barely any effort but her social skills lagged far behind her academic achievement.
Dear Dr. Yael
My mother thinks of herself as a superior person, has very little feelings for other people, and probably suffers from a deep lack of self-esteem.