Four years ago, when my younger daughter was in 6th grade, I looked for an alternative to the standard ulpana (high school for girls in the national religious sector). After enrolling her in a new program in Tel Aviv, I became interested in innovations in other schools. This ultimately led an … [Read more...]
No More Kiss and Goodbye: The “Zero Separation” Revolution
April 11, 2016 by 4 Comments
This article first appeared in the Jerusalem Post's "In Jerusalem" supplement on Friday, April 8. Reprinted with permission. Tapping into two issues affecting the hospital experience of young parents: the quality of care for the mother and newborn, and patients’ rights • By HANNAH KATSMAN When … [Read more...]
How To Combat Bullying in the Jewish Community
December 3, 2015 by 5 Comments
This year I again attended the conference, Shedding Light on the Darkness of Abuse, sponsored by the Tahel Jerusalem Crisis Center for Women and Children. The conference addressed a wide range of issues relating to treatment and prevention of abuse. The conference also addressed abuse by peers, … [Read more...]
Guest Post: Secret Crush, Secret Life
July 13, 2015 by 1 Comment
The writer of this guest post would like to remain anonymous. I was in 8th grade when I first met her. To my untrained eyes, she was completely perfect. From her shining eyes and dimples to the sound of her laugh. I knew that I couldn’t approach her, but I worshipped from afar. We became friends, … [Read more...]
Preschool Pesach Haggadah
March 24, 2015 by
I'm happy to be participating in the Passover for Kids series over at the Multicultural Kids Blog (MKB). Today I'm reposting a popular craft, a simplified children's haggadah that preschoolers can make themselves and use at the family Passover seder. Be sure to check out the other posts in the … [Read more...]
Spy Cameras in Gan
February 2, 2015 by 7 Comments
A new trend in Israeli parenting involves equipping small children with spy cameras to catch a ganenet (kindergarten teacher) during the act of child abuse. In Makor Rishon's "Tzedek" supplement (January 16), Itzik Wolf wrote that the education ministry is preparing a legal document that will … [Read more...]
Rabbi Who Installed Hidden Cameras in Dorm to Open New Seminary
December 9, 2014 by 26 Comments
Update posted Wednesday, December 17: Today Haaretz published an article confirming that Rabbi Bryks was exonerated by the police. According to the Haaretz article, "Bryks currently teaches at two yeshiva programs for men in Israel, Derech and Chai Israel, and two seminary programs for women, … [Read more...]
Things We Did Not Learn in Ulpana
February 16, 2014 by
On Facebook, Tiferet Shaham wrote an open letter about sexuality for graduates of religious high schools in Israel. She hopes it will be beneficial to both men and women, secular and religious. Below is my summary in English. Open Letter to Young Girls and Women on Positive Sexuality, or How to … [Read more...]
Thank You to a Stranger from a Special Needs Mom
June 10, 2013 by
Please welcome Hadassah Rosenthal for today's guest post. Hadassah's moving story has a lesson for all parents. Yesterday was my 5-year-old daughter's first day at the pool. I've heard way too many stories about kids on the Autistic Spectrum who wandered into water and ended up drowning. So, … [Read more...]
Guest Post: Story of Orthodox Teen Pregnancy
June 4, 2013 by
The author of today's guest post wishes to remain anonymous: This story has a happy ending, mostly. It almost didn't. I grew up in a religious household, and I knew what the expectations were, yet when I was eighteen, I became sexually active. When I was twenty, a condom tore. Ten days later, I … [Read more...]
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