Author Archive

Now they're all dancing. Men only. They stand on one side of the table. Hands on their neighbors' shoulders. Eyes closed.

“Ay ay ay, Va'toisef Ester va'tevakesh.”

The three older ones wear funny-looking hats. The younger ones only have their beards sprayed white.

“Don’t start again with the Internet!” Breindy says to me this morning. She is sitting with the kids at the kitchen table as I grab my tallis beitel. I tap my new EVO in my breast…

My cell phone vibrates. Nuchem taught me how to set it on vibrate when I’m in shul or, as I am now, at a simcha. Breindy wanted me to look around to see if it would be suitable…

“Git Shabbos, Reb Hershel,” the gabbai says to me with a smile. “Minche?”

He has it down to a science, Reb Yossel the gabbai. Every other week he asks me the same question. He needs someone to lead the services…

I have to be at work early today. Niko has to load his truck at eight and Mr. V. won’t trust a goy with the keys. Sometimes I wish he wouldn’t trust me either. It would make my life easier.…

I enter our apartment. It’s noisy as hell, the same noises every evening. Koiles ivrukim. Children squabbling, Breindy yelling, the vacuum cleaner roaring, kids making milkshakes in the blender and spilling half of it on the counters and the kitchen…

Mr V. is screaming. His face is read, as is his neck. I suppress a laugh. He just looks so ridiculous. Now he sees me and directs his anger at me. Our family connection got me the best seat in…

The house smells like a Friday afternoon. Ajax, some unidentified scent, and delicious Shabbos food. The washing-machine spins noisily, the little kids fight over a coloring book and the older kids fight over which of the younger ones…

The phone is ringing again. I glance at the cordless resting on the night table. The caller is indicated on the lit screen, but I am reluctant to get up and look at it. I want to sleep.…