Girl Talk!

  Sometimes things are so clearly meant to be, you just have to laugh out loud. Man, there is a Master Planner and He has a plan! A lot of things make me laugh that way. Meeting Andrea is one of them.  Somehow we're connected; by passions, by dreams and through tichels. Despite our age difference, I feel a true kinship and respect for this woman who has come into Observant Judaism and brought something fresh to the table. Andrea, it was wonderful having you over, but too short. PS. How did you get back to the airport? https://youtu.be/ZNAlvuym0Ac?list=PL9ZCaeQtFYddfpVhVSeVjdmQeBZpHyEzt Read more...

Meet A Woman Brand New To Headcovering

  So I got this email one day from a women who saw my YouTube videos while looking up tichels. She had some questions so we made a date and she came to my house a couple of days later. As you can see in this video - she is WONDERFUL!When I met her I was really surprised to find out that she wasn't religious, but was committed to covering her hair. As with all the other wonderful people I meet I had to capture her on video. I never ended up posting it but when I was watching it today it reminded me of you and how our  neshama is just waiting to be awoken. And how it sings when we pay attention to it. You guys are my  heroes. You know, I'm always working on healthy eating and sometimes it's so hard. And I think to myself, I find this little change hard - just think of the inner strength and conviction of people who make Jewish changes in their life. WOW! https://youtu.be/9vaMWBcnp5U Have you ever had a great experience shaking a lulav with a Chabad Rabbi or attending a Menorah lighting? The idea that they're focusing on is that every mitzvah is a spark and you never know which spark will light up a person's soul. So here is Sharon being all lit up by the mitzvah of modesty. Do you have a  mitzvah? One that grabs you and feels mysteriously  important and yet doable? Read more...

Who is Actually Disabled?

 

Hanging Succah decorations

  This week in the Jewish calender it's the holiday of Succos - a time where we build something akin to  a hut and spend a week  there, (having our meas there, often sleeping there and generally spending time in it's holy walls)  both grounding our inspiration from the High Holidays while simultaneously creating a cocoon of spirituality to nurture us for the upcoming year. We call it a Honeymoon with G-d. This Succos we've had amazing meals, guests, and songs. At one meal we shared stories. Just before dessert, our friend Phil said "Did I ever tell you the story of my friend Matthew?"   Mathew was an only child and so he was like a third sibling to me and my brother. Our moms were friends and we grew up together. Mathew is shorter than average - although in his 20's he's only 4' 2". He's had multiple surgeries and struggles and he's the most incredible person I know. When  I needed to write down a list of people in my life who affected me, my friend Matt was on the top of the list. Matt is a huge Ravens fan, and one day last year, as it neared the Superbowl season Matt  found himself up earlier then usual. Spontaneously,in a generous stroke,  he penned a letter to the Ravens. It was a letter of encouragement where he shared his story and his strength. He sent it off to the standard contact info that was on the Raven's site. He had no idea what would become of it - he just wanted to put out a good word. Well, imagine his surprise when he got an email back from  the head of the Ravens! The coach said he had read the letter to all the players and it gave them  a tremendous boost. Next he received comments from various players. He was the hero of his heroes! Matt was invited to visit the players and to speak his great words directly to them - and the Ravens won the Superbowl! I'm not saying anything, but the Ravens continued to win from then on! Recently, just about a month ago Matt got signed with Leading Authorities. They're a speaking agency that's comprised of some of the TOP speakers today (among them Mitt Romney - to give you an idea). [I think that's his audition in the video]                                                                                                                      We're only limited by the belief that we have in ourselves. Every man, woman and child is a the expert on their life. And in that expertise we each have a unique wisdom to share . You always win by giving. Just keep on giving. Keep putting good words and deeds out there. Being yourself is enough. Stop comparing yourself to others. The exact person the world needs is YOU. The Only Disability is a Bad Attitude!

Can you share with me? What did this story and/or  speech mean to you?

 You can hear more of Matt ( a nice Jewish boy!) here.   Read more...

Good Bye Wrapunzel

    Last night was Good Bye Wrapunzel night. Its a huge change but we are sure that  this will be the beginning of something incredible I can't explain it in more profound terms, we just KNOW that despite the loss, everything is going to be amazing. In preparation for this new stage we've been fixing up our house. All those places (like our torn couches) that we had ignored while we were breathlessly busy were suddenly staring up at us with pitiful eyes; "Fix me, take care of me, make me a home again."

Sorting through our books

Anyway, its been a long time in coming and it's been a  powerful cleansing process.  You may not know this, but Wrapunzel ran out of my daughters old bedroom. We painted it and put up shelves to accommodate the tichels  but it wasn't long before the shelves spilled out of the room and lined our hallways. It was a little crazy! LOTS of tichels! Now that a new era is here I feel a yearning to reclaim my space - to lavish my rooms with love and attention so that they'll hug us and hold us while we finally take some time to breathe. Its our way of making a vessel for G_d to send blessings - bring it on! ( Plus  - no more playing with tichels all day so home decorating is a wonderful art form as a replacement!)

My new writing space. ( previously the Wrapunzel room)

I look forward to more blogging and getting to share more of our life with you with all this freed up time! Love, Rivka Malka If you haven't already, come subscribe to my blog, that's where it's happening! Subscribe HERE.       Read more...