Author Archive

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…

“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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…