Unions
Married in their hearts, it took 23 years and two sons to make it legal
Karen Solomon always felt she was a bit out of step with most other women when it came to talk of weddings, the big day, the perfect gown and all of that.…
Community
Quad Mitzvah — four siblings celebrate together
It was just another beautiful, soulful, tearful b’nai mitzvah … times four. For the four siblings who came into this world more or less together 13 years…
Bay Area
Best events to celebrate Tu B’Shevat, the ‘new year of the trees’
Tu B’Shevat, or “new year of the trees,” began as an agricultural festival in Israel, marking the start of spring. Today the focus has turned to…
Parenting
Bay Area bliss meets New York state of mind
We’ve been traveling back East for the holidays to see family since our kids were little. Thankfully, we no longer have to schlep car seats. And I no…
Parenting
It took time, but now we have our perfect Jewish Christmas
When I was 5, I asked my mom if Santa Claus was real. “Are you sure you want to know?” she asked. I was. So she told me: Santa Claus is real, but he…
The Matzo Chronicles
Dreidels and reindeer — let me love ’em both
We’re Jewish and we have a Christmas tree. In fact, we’ve had one since 1929. That’s the year my immigrant grandmother traveled home to visit her…
Parenting
Why is the Pittsburgh shooting still affecting me?
I know a Rose Mallinger. And a Jerry Rabinowitz. The nine others murdered at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh are familiar to me, too. They are…
Mixed & Matched
My buttinsky in-laws exhaust me with their expectations
Dear Dawn: I am Protestant and my husband is Jewish. We belong to a wonderful synagogue where our children attend Hebrew school. We enjoy services and…
Kids & Family
A social 'nest' so parents don't have to go it alone
Tearful new moms regularly stopped by her office, telling of their loneliness and expressing doubts about their mothering skills and ability to cope. Many…