Inspiration 1711 articles

“Your heart stopped for three and a half seconds,” the cardiologist said, after I answered the phone in my kitchen. “Did you feel anything two nights ago?” “No.” I did remember...

In the interest of full disclosure, I must first state that I’m writing this on a dare. Here are some excerpts from an actual conversation with a friend via Facebook messenger...

Despite the recent record-breaking cold, it’s been a most heartwarming time for our family.  One of our married couples welcomed into this world their second child, their first son. Most births...

I experienced the unbelievable power we all have to find meaning and create connection in our lives. Instead of sitting on the beach this winter break, I, along with 380 other...

He was a shochet (kosher butcher) in Brisk. When Abe Kirshtein left Europe for Charleston in the 1920’s, he figured he would continue in his line of work. After all, a shochet...

For 10 years, I prayed for the same thing everyday. When you’re married with children and one of your closest friends is still single, every simcha you are blessed with feels...

Two neighbors were fighting over a financial dispute. They couldn’t reach an agreement, so they took their case to the local rabbi. The rabbi heard the first litigant’s case, nodded his...

I recently made a surprising discovery: Pirkei Avot is a dangerous book. Sure, we call it “Ethics of Our Fathers,” which sounds fairly positive. And we regularly encourage our children to...

I was 11 years old when I saw my father show his disappointment in me for the first time. My Dad and I would daven the morning prayers together every day....

It’s winter break. For some, that means heading down to Disney or Miami, to Israel or to the ski slopes. But it’s hard for my husband to get away for so...