Chochmas Nashim: Vayechi: Hello 2021!! By: Suri Davis   AND HE LIVED!!!  The name of this week’s torah portion. I know many are saying goodbye to 2020.  Kicking it out like unwanted baggage.  Can’t do that, too much happened which affected me for me to be ungrateful for the year.  Believe me, it wasn’t all…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: VAYIGASH: Auld Lang Syne By: Lenore Suri Davis   The unfolding story of Joseph and his brothers.  We see this week the very moving story of how Joseph can no longer keep his identity secret from his brothers, and he reveals himself.  Wanting to save them from regret or remorse, he immediately states,…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: MIKETZ: TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART By: Suri Davis   Today, December 14, 2020 at about 11:15am, there is expected a total eclipse.  We probably wont feel it here in the Five Towns as it is cloudy and rainy. I was concentrating on my davening/prayers this past Shabbos and I pondered the following…

Chochmas Nashim: Vayishlach:  My Name is Bond By: Suri Davis I recently read an article by Rabbi Shais Taub, Scholar in Residence at the Five Towns Chabad.  He made a distinction between three words for communication, dibur is a command, amirah conveys information and sichah is a conversation.  When I email to people, I try…

Chochmas Nashim: Toldos: Eruvin, O’ Eruvin, Our Eruvin, Our Heroes By: Suri Stern   As we wind down Masechet Eruvin in Daf Yomi land, there is a lot to ponder. So much minutae about eruvs, who knew? I have been living in the Five Towns long enough to remember a time when there wasn’t an…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: CHAYEI SARAH:MONEY V. DAYS By: Suri Davis   This week’s torah portion, Chayei Sarah, starts with a recitation of the years Sarah lived. וַיִּהְיוּ֙ חַיֵּ֣י שָׂרָ֔ה מֵאָ֥ה שָׁנָ֛ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים שְׁנֵ֖י חַיֵּ֥י שָׂרָֽה׃ Sarah’s lifetime—the span of Sarah’s life—100 years, 20 years, 7 years, the years of Sarah’s life. Why didn’t…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: LECH LICHA: WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME By: Suri Davis   As an estate attorney, I cringe when I get calls from children of clients wanting copies of wills and trusts, with the question, what am I inheriting?  This is in contrast with the multi-generational approach, where clients bring in their children for…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: NOAH: DICHOTOMY By: Suri Stern G-d caused the water to flood the Earth for forty days, similar to the 40 seahs (jewish liquid measurement) that is required for a purifying mikveh.  The water was meant to purify the creatures and build a conscience for humans that they did not have before the flood.(Toras…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: BEREISHIT: ENTROPY: VITRIOL By: Suri Davis   Vayehi erev, vayehi boker, yom echad/It was evening, it was day on the one day.  We Jews start our days at night, e.g., Shabbos starts Friday night.  Why?  It is essential Emunah/faith, when it’s dark, difficult to see, we have to have faith that day/light will…

PRESIDENT, PANDEMIC AND PHYSICIANS By: Suri Davis     There is an uptick in Covid positive results locally and around the globe.  We watched, cringingly, at the presidential debates, and we wonder, whose fault is it anyway?  This pandemic seems to have a beat of its own, and fear has returned about illness and death. …