A couple of weeks ago, one of my clients hired me to clean out her mother’s large one-bedroom apartment. Currently the woman is living in an assisted living facility and will, unfortunately, not be able to return to her home. Due to COVID-19, it was decided I would work alone in the apartment. On this project, I

What an exciting day! Friends and family gathered to celebrate the present and the future. It was exhilarating and exhausting, but the happiest day of their lives. The beginning of an amazing life together. The possibilities were endless. Dreams for the weeks, months and years abounded. On that day a new family was started under the chuppah

Step #6

Part 4

דרכיה דרכי נועם וכל נתיבותיה שלום

“The ways of the Torah are ways of pleasantness, and all its pathways are peace.”

(Mishlei 3:17)

My mother loved the word “potchka.” She would always tell us how something wasn’t a potchka at all, when clearly it was. At least for any normal person it would be, but then mothers are never regular human beings. They definitely have superpowers, don’t they? So this article is titled, “Why Potchka?” and the answer lies

These are difficult times, and Sam* is especially stressed. He is highly anxious, impulsive and suffers from learning disabilities and sensory and attentional problems. He is 5 years old, and his life isn’t fun anymore.

Prior to the pandemic, Sam was attending a good special needs program and doing

Why is there pain and suffering in the world? How can we understand a Halacha or Torah portion that seems to be incompatible with our current knowledge and values? Where do babies come from? There is no shortage of difficult and controversial topics that might arise at the Shabbat table, leaving adults nervously glancing at each

What’s everyone doing this summer? For most of us, the answer is still a big fat question mark; how upsetting is that? It’s a challenge to try to make plans for something that is truly out of our control and balance returning to normal work hours, all while we have our children home—especially children who are disappointed that camp

Since joining Facebook, I’ve signed into a few of its many groups. One of the most rewarding is People Who Went to Catskill Bungalow Colonies, started by Trudy Gewirtzman Malmut, now 10,000 members strong and growing fast. On April 28, another member of the group, Jan Shapiro-Shandler posted, “I have been holding onto this cookbook

Many people in my neighborhood have welcomed dogs into their families this winter, during the weeks of quarantine. Whether for entertainment, companionship or having a walking buddy, dog ownership has spiked. This generation of puppies has been labeled “COVID dogs.” A couple of months ago, one of my neighbors brought

Step #6

Part 3

“The ways of the Torah are ways of pleasantness, and all its pathways are peace.”

(Mishlei 3:7)

So far, we have discussed the importance of a mentsch acting in a pleasant fashion that creates a kiddush

I miss working with my clients face to face. I miss the interaction with the client, helping them transport items to new “homes” other than the trash, hearing their stories and really listening to what’s going on in their world to know how to orient the organization session. I really miss the usual life of

אלו דברים שאדם אוכל פירותיהם בעולם הזה והקרן קיימת לעולם הבא: ואלו הן, כיבוד אב ואם, וגמילות חסדים, והשכמת בית המדרש שחרית וערבית, והכנסת אורחים, וביקור חולים, והכנסת כלה, ולוית המת,