Choking On A Short Leash
As we age (or as our chronic illness worsens) and every day tasks take longer and becomes more difficult, our desire to remain independent seems to increase.
Men As Caregivers
I have often written my column about women and their experiences as caregivers. It was not my intension to exclude men, however most support groups I attended were either entirely or mostly made up of women. So naturally, I tend to see things from a woman's perspective.
Marine Park, Brooklyn
Question: Have you ever visited Israel?
Radom, Poland
During the construction work carried out in the city of Radom workers found a number of richly polychromatic (multi-colored) matzevot (tombstones) beneath the ground.
Mazal Tov!
Whenever Jews come together in honor of a lifecycle event, it is a simchah.
Life Cycle Events and Distance
I've been writing about the joys and heartbreaks of dealing with life-cycle events that occur far from the home of the chronically ill person.
Further And Final Comments and Observations on the Topic of Weight
I have spent the last few articles discussing what, I have come to believe, are abusive comments made to overweight people in the guise of caring and acceptability.
Use Your Filter
We all have a filter, should we choose to use it. It is the sensitive part of us that allows us to hear what we are about to say before it leaves our mouth.
B’nai B’rith International Revives Lodge In Poland
In 1938, by decree of the president of the Republic of Poland, all 10 B'nai B'rith Lodges were closed down.
Jewish Cultural Festival In Krakow
The 19th Jewish Cultural Festival in Krakow will be held between June 27 and July 5. As always Janusz Makuch, director of the festival has organized an exciting program with all the usual performers and many exciting new exhibits, lectures, tours and musical artists.
Protecting Jewish Cemeteries In Poland And Around The World
Last week I wrote about the discovery of human remains beyond the fence of a Jewish cemetery in Bilgoraj, Poland, showing that the boundaries of the cemetery went beyond the supposed size of the protected site.
Vishkov
There is no definitive information on when Jews first came to Vishkov, but at the turn of the 20th century, the cemetery was the final resting place of at least four generations.
The Chassidic Route In Poland
Every year more and more Jewish tourists go to Poland to visit the historic sites of pre-Shoah Jewish heritage.
Bergen Beach, Brooklyn
Question: Will Sen. Obama's relationship with Rev. Wright affect your vote?
Caged In A Box Of Others’ Values And Expectations
In my interviews with well spouses, the theme of being caged in a box of expectations has repeated itself often.
Po-Lin
Every year there seems to be a new bestseller with a Holocaust theme that reveals a new story of heroism in the most horrible of times.
Woodbury, Long Island
Question: How do you feel about a possible MTA fare hike?
The Unstated Message (Part II)
Last week I wrote that what we say to others, and the way we say it, might evoke emotions in our listeners that may or may not be what we intend.
Touch, the Better Alternative
Words do not always come out right. They don't always express the depth of our emotions or what we want to say.
Some Guidelines For Visitation (Part 2)
Last week, I started providing feedback on how to visit the sick or chronically ill.
The Jewish King Of Poland
Saul Wahl's story is one of the most intriguing of all the legendary stories concerning Polish Jewry.
Krakow Jewish Festival
Last week saw the greatest modern (post-Holocaust) celebration of Jewish culture in Europe at the Krakow Jewish Cultural Festival.
R & R
The well spouse, despite the calm and in control mask s/he wears, tends to be a fragile creature.
Understanding And Empathizing With Challenging Behavior
Rona came to town to visit family and friends. She looked forward to reconnecting after years of living so far away. She had made sure her chronically ill spouse was well cared for at home while she had a much-needed break from care giving.
Wysokie Mazowiecie
Recently the Jewish cemetery at Wysokie Mazowiecie held a ceremony marking the first stage of its restoration project.
Why Do They Stay?
Last week I tried to give some insight into the real existence of a well spouse.
My Ever Decreasing Circle Of Good Friends
My mother used to say you never know who your good friends are until you go through a crisis.
Emotional Trauma
Emotional trauma takes an invisible toll. Unlike a physical ailment, an illness or a broken leg, the trauma is not visible to the eye.
More Phone Stories
Chronic illness, to the great pain of everyone involved, only ends in one way, death.
Some Guidelines For Visitation (Part 3)
The first two suggestions I received from people who were chronically ill, hospitalized, in nursing homes or just out of the hospital, were to keep your visits short and not ask questions or make comments that were invasive about the illness.