while socializing with their friends, and then are off to kollel, where in about three hours there is a 1-2 hour lunch break and mincha. (There are exceptions, of course.) Today’s mothers must go to work just for the necessities, i.e., rent that has gone through the roof, tuition that has increased 300% over the years, and yes, even clothing, shoes and food. I happen at times to be a babysitting Bubby, but most of my friends are still working to support their families and grandchildren, so no, there are no relatives to babysit, contrary to your ideas. Good luck trying to find a babysitter in your home. My husband happens to be the greatest talmid chochom in the neighborhood, even though he went to work and provided for his family; he always woke up at dawn for his shiur and davening. Correct me please if I’m wrong, but I distinctly remember learning that it’s a father’s obligation to teach his son Torah, a profession and swimming. The men also signed a very ancient contract by way of kesubah stating that a man must provide for his family, including quite a bit of extras for Shabbos and yom tov! I saw nothing in there about the women having to go out to work, or the parents, for that matter. When a friend of mine, as a young wife and mother, boasted to an elderly rebbetzin about her working so her husband can learn all day, the rebbetzin replied, “Kinder, dos ken nisht zein gut,” (that can’t work), when a well-rested husband comes home in the evening to an overworked, exhausted, sleep-deprived woman. So dear mother, grandmother; today’s young women have no choice, and in most cases it is not what they want to do, but what they must. The system is broken. Don’t blame the victims. This Aching-hearted Mother, Grandmother and Great-grandmother
SNOWMEN ON SHABBOS?
#loveaprimsale
Dear Parents and Rebbeim, Please teach your children and students that snow is muktzeh, especially boys between the ages seven and twelve. The Shabbos it snowed my husband came out of shul to find three snowmen that hadn’t been there earlier. The year before in our old neighborhood I saw boys playing with the snow on Shabbos afternoon. These were boys from a yeshiva and cheder that should have taught this.
IT’S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS Dear Gift-Giver/Receiver, I’m just like you. I enjoying giving the perfect gift which will hopefully be appreciated by the recipient. As a mommy, bubby, wife and teacher (among the many other hats I wear) I also enjoy receiving gifts. But I would absolutely hate to receive a gift if I had even the tiniest inkling that the gift-giver was skimping on life’s necessities like laundry detergent, gas or breakfast cereal. Gifts can take many forms and definitely do not have to involve a major monetary burden on the giver, especially during this Chanukah gift-giving season. There are more alternatives with which to express your appreciation of a person than can possibly be listed here, but here are some options: home-baked goodies attractively arranged on a decorative plate or in a container with a bit of tissue paper, a lovely note written attractively on nice stationery, flower arrangements that can be bought very cheaply l’kavod Shabbos, a chocolate bar... and the list goes on. Please whoever is gifting me: If you need the money slotted for me for life’s necessities, I hereby gift it back to you. Another Gift-Giver/Receiver
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EDITORS’ BULLETIN: THE CHANUKAH HALACHOS COLUMN IN ISSUE #79 WAS WRITTEN BY REBBETZIN Y. WEISSMANDL 59 Route 59 | 845.356.0003 Sunday-Thursday 10AM - 7PM | Friday 10AM - 1PM
December 28, 2016 / THE MONSEY VIEW / 35 www.themonseyview.com / 845.600.8484