These Lights We Kindle

by Alan D. Busch

Appreciating miracles every day.

A Knock on the Window

by Chaya Malka Abramson

Sometimes it's the small gestures that penetrate most deeply.

Nothing's been the Same

by Bassi Gruen

Life sure has changed, my little one, ever since you've joined the family.

No One to Blame

by Yael Mermelstein

A taxi ride to somewhere unexpected.

Beauty Beyond Style

by Malkie Nisenbaum

Little life and death decisions.

The Key to Life

by Sarah Adler

To me, it is a miracle that anyone can conceive a child unassisted.

Clinging to Life

by Miriam Silver

This was my third pregnancy and it was going blissfully well. How things can change in an instant.

Life's Final Chapter

by Miriam Millhauser Castle

As I took care of my dying mother, a new bond was created.

Why I Send My Kids to Day School

by Eric Simon

Why is someone like me, staunchly Reform and secular, sending my kids to an Orthodox Jewish day school?

Without a Mother

by Tzvia Ehrlich-Klein

Because of my father's devoted love, I barely realized that I was missing a mother.

Last Dance

by Rochelle Krich

I was totally unprepared for saying goodbye to my father.

The Blessing of a Rented Room

by Lisa Compart

I was 36 years old and running out of options

Roller Skates

by Chana Shofnos

Polio makes you different. And at age ten, who wants to be different?

My Mother the Judge

by Sara Debbie Gutfreund

Watching Judge Lefkowitz balance the needs of four generations and a seat on the New York State Supreme Court was impressive, especially to her daughter.

The Necklace

by Batsheva Hirschman Frankel

The true meaning of loving your fellow Jew.

Snowed Out

by Charles H. Kuttner

Was I supposed to be stuck in town that weekend just for this purpose?

Touching the World of Angels

by Seth Clyman, reviewed by Judy Siegel-Itzkovich

How my daughter's short life changed mine.

What Arafat Said

by Sarah Shapiro

Was it only in my imagination that I was smarter than my father?

The Plain Jane Society

by Riva Pomerantz

Perfection eludes us all, but acceptance does not have to.

Chanukah Unplugged

by Carol Tice

Our Chanukah candles shone extra-bright last year. That's because they were the only lights in our house.

Glass of Gratitude

by Ayelet

It's always totally full.

Losing Little One

by Rachel Shifra Tal
As told to Chana (Jenny) Weisberg

The sudden loss of a pregnancy shakes the world of a young mother-to-be.

Birthday Blues

by Yael Mermelstein

Somehow birthdays morphed into a day of doors closing behind me with a final thud.

Final Request

by Emunah Bachar

I knew Bubby would be leaving this world soon, and I was determined to be with her before it happened.

Dad's Presence

by Beverly Beckham

Now I listen to Dad better than ever.

One More Day

by Barbara Kessel

When hellos are so sweet, goodbyes are all the more difficult.

Lean on Me

by Deena Yellin

Help lies just beyond our front porch. We just have to let it in.

Sapphire Eyes

by Chava Willig Levy

A letter to two little girls.

My Dancing Partner

by Aviva Landau

I did not stop praying for my miracle. I wanted my grandmother to dance at my wedding.

In the Eyes of a Newborn Baby

by Chana (Jenny) Weisberg

Reflections on worry and hope.

Faith in the NICU

by Shoshana Greenspan

I thought if I could remain in control of every factor affecting my son's life, perhaps I could cure him.

Spider Days

by Riva Pomerantz

I am Mother, hear me roar.

A Blended Family

by Dina Bar-Tov

Our patched-together family is in some ways like our kitchen table – a merging of two older tables shoved together.

The Joys (?) of Passover Cleaning

by Emuna Braverman

It is possible not only to enjoy Passover cleaning, but to find it to be the most meaningful aspect of holiday preparation.

Too Late to Send

by a Granddaughter

A letter to my grandmother.

My Mother, My Self

by Daphne Merkin

A daughter gives her dying mother the only thing she can: dignity.

My Mother's Purse

by Sarah Shapiro

We'd lost Mommy and Daddy; we didn't want to lose each other.

A Dream of Light

by Shoshana Horowitz

For some people lighting the Chanukah candles is an unattainable yearning.

The Life and Death of a Clown

by Sara Yoheved Rigler

The eternal value of cheering up sad people.

My Own Stroller

by Avigail Rosen

In my eyes, others stand astride a mountain while I look from a valley below. She wheels a baby, while I walk empty-handed.

In the Comfort of Our Own Living Room

by Eli Berg

Marrying off three daughters in 14 months was just the lead up to grand finale.

Rosh Hashana: Making Room for God_

by Sherri Mandell

It is when we are broken that we recognize God as our true home.

Fly Away Home

by Judy Gruen

There is no inoculation for parental separation anxiety.

What Empty Nests are Filled With

by Bassi Gruen

On that Friday night, I got a vision of how I want my nest to look when it is no longer filled with little ones.

Back to School

by Rebecca Shore

Turning over those fresh new notebook pages can inspire more than just good grades.

My Mother, My Child

by Edith Brown

I made a promise I would take care of Mama.

Spiritual Piano Lessons

by Shoshannah Sarah

Tapping into a child's inner world and bringing out his creativity.

My Grandfather's Maror

by Chani Newman

Some bitter herbs cannot be eaten.

The Carrot Prayer

by Devorah Lifshutz

My mother's tzimmes became a bridge from the past, connecting me to a rich and tasty heritage.

Among the Blessed

by Bassi Gruen

Must we first be denied a gift in order to feel gratitude upon receiving it?