OY VEY
JEWISH JOKE
OY VEY! HAVE I GOT A PROBLEM... sn’t Dear Rachel, about her. Since she doe ious issues, and I worry ser of list g . lon her a ng” has er eri My baby sist the role of “moth ents, I have stepped into par r ou h m wit p fro s shi fer on ati suf and have a good rel re than a few months, uggles to keep a job mo . Being a nonconool sch in She has a short fuse, str on ked ldhood and got pic chi gh rou a h our had she ly, depression. Sad ool. Her relationship wit both at home and in sch – le ub tro of lot a o gs. int lin fee formist, she got ups and downs and hurt very rocky with a lot of long list of posia has she e, parents has always been sid ght pede her. On the bri im t tha . ms ble pro the Those are well, from start to finish cares that it be executed she , job a s doe . she her ts en sui Wh tive qualities. g others when the mood -hearted and enjoys helpin e enShe is intuitive and warm optimum success. I hav path in life and achieve her d fin she t re is tha the ch ng mu isti I care so is resistant, ins go for therapy – but she to , her rkged wo beg con her eve , s, lt. It’s her bos couraged her t of the world that is at fau res the it’s . – life her h her wit in g g nothing wron that goes wron er to blame for anything nev is she w, eho som s; er, our parent can I help my sister? What should I do? How Sincerely, Amy Dear Amy, You have asked a beautiful question. Your caring and compassion for your struggling sister comes through in every line of your poignant letter. She is lucky to have you as her support system. I’m sorry that I don’t have a perfect solution. I wish I could wave a magic wand, and presto! Your sister will happily dance her way into an excellent therapist’s office and stick with the process until her issues are satisfactorily resolved. I feel that a person has to want to help herself, and only then can she achieve success. If her mind is open and she truly wants to maximize her potential and make the most of her life, she will be willing to undergo whatever it takes to reach her goals. But if her heart is sealed, no amount of outside pressure can force her to take the steps necessary for change to take place. I am sure this is not the answer you were hoping to hear. Perhaps you hoped I would suggest getting someone she admires on her case, which may not be a bad idea. If there is a rabbi or mentor somewhere in the picture, maybe she will be more open to listening to that person rather than from a know-it-all older sister. No offense, but that seems to be the way most younger siblings view the oldest, accurate or not. I wonder if your job may be to take a step back. Perhaps your role is simply to be a listening ear and to offer compassionate support. Lending your ears and heart is of invaluable assistance to anyone on this planet; there is not a single person who doesn’t need someone to love and care about them! And, when your sister is ready, hopefully she will get up on her own two feet and take the necessary measures to affect her healing and move forward with her life. Maybe, just maybe, your sister craves independence. You did mention that she is a nonconformist. It is possible that once she stops hearing “orders” from you, she will assert herself and devise a plan that will help her succeed in her endeavors. Thank you for being a stellar example of what it means to be a caring sister. Wishing you all the best and much nachas from your younger sister, Rachel Atlanta Jewish Times Advice Column Got a problem? Email Rachel Stein at oyvey@atljewishtimes.com, describing your problem in 250 words or less. We want to hear from you and get helpful suggestions for your situation at the same time!
Jewish Food Glossary Kasha Varnishkes One of the little-known delicacies which is even more difficult to pronounce than to cook. It has nothing to do with varnish but is basically a mixture of buckwheat and bowtie macaroni [noodles]. Why a bowtie? Many sages discussed this and agreed that some Jewish mother decided that “You can’t come to the table without a tie” or, G-d forbid, “An elbow on my table?” Cholent This combination of noxious gases had been the secret weapon of Jews for centuries. The unique mixture of beans, barley, potatoes, and bones or meat is meant to stick to your ribs and anything else it comes into contact with. At a fancy Mexican restaurant [kosher, of course] I once heard this comment from a youngster who had just had his first taste of Mexican fried beans: “What! Do they serve leftover cholent here too?” Latkes There is a rumor that in the time of the Maccabees they lit a latke by mistake and it burned for eight days. What is certain is you will have heartburn for the same amount of time. Matzah The Egyptians’ revenge for leaving slavery. It consists of a simple mix of flour and water, no eggs or flavor at all. When made well, it could actually taste like cardboard. Its redeeming value is that it does fill you up and stays with you for a long time. However, it is recommended that you eat a few prunes soon after. Source: Harry Leichter’s Jewish Humor
YIDDISH WORD OF THE MONTH V'GEYT'S? What gives? What's up? What's new? What's wrong? pronounced v-gayt-uhs "Nu, I haven't seen you for a while; so, v'geyt's?"
54 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES
