Wellspring Issue #112

JUNE 2025 // SIVAN 5785 // ISSUE 112

Gut Reaction Clearing the Fog on Hashimoto’s Haze

Hidden in Plain Bite The Medical Saga that Touched a Nerve

Cup of Tea With Marla Rottenstreich

n a r l e F t l E a r me u O

The Other ADHD Rabbi YY Rubinstein explains

Nechemia Meir’s Torah Turn Trash Into Treasure

Planting Perennials And Watching Them Grow

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WELLSPRING MAGAZINE JUNE 2025 | SIVAN 5785

| ISSUE #112

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OUR ETERNAL FLAME

By Tziri Hershkovitz It’s been exactly 3,333 years since Matan Torah, and each time a new Sefer Torah is written, she is transcribed word for word. Not a single aspect has ever been altered. And yet, while the Torah remains unchanged, each hachnasas Sefer Torah feels uniquely personal; a celebration of our unbroken connection to Hashem’s word.

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56

CLEARING THE FOG ON HASHIMOTO’S HAZE

By Tamar Feldman, RDN, CDCES The vast majority of women with hypothyroidism are unaware whether their condition is autoimmune Hashimoto's. Despite its high prevalence, most are never informed of this distinction. This oversight is both surprising and disappointing, especially since understanding it could improve the chances of receiving optimal treatment.

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WELLSPRING MAGAZINE JUNE 2025 | SIVAN 5785

| ISSUE #112

WELL INFORMED 14 Springboard 18 Spiritual Eating 20 Torah Wellspring 24 Health News

LIVING WELL

WELLBEING

30 Feature

60 Hakol Beseder

36 Sleep Smarts

62 Seasonal Stumpers

38 More or Less

64 Well Answered

39 The Voice of Mother Hen

66 Wallet Wellness

40 Second Opinion

68 Mind and You

42 Community 44 Fitness

EAT WELL

46 Cup of Tea

Editor In Chief Tziri Hershkovitz Deputy Editor Libby Silberman Feature Editors Vichna Belsky, Devorah Levitz Copy Editors Gitti Feldinger, Meira Lawrence

56 Gut Reaction

94 Holistic

Nutrition Contributors Tanya Rosen, MS CAI CPT, Shani Taub, CDC

Fitness Advisory Board Syma Kranz, PFC, Esther Fried, PFC

WELLSPRING MAGAZINE

FAREWELL

Health Advisory Board Dr. Rachael Schindler, Laura Shammah, MS, RDN, Tamar Feldman, RDN, CDE, Bashy Halberstam, INHC, Shaindy Oberlander, INHC, Dr. Adina Mintz, PA-C Esti Asher, MS, RDN, LD

EDITORIAL

Health Advisory Board Dr. Chayala Englard, Chaya Tilla Brachfeld, RN

52 Medical Saga

Editorial Contributors Rabbi Yehoshua Belsky LMSW, Rabbi Eli Glaser, CNWC, CWMS, Rabbi Y.Y. Rubinstein, Baruch Niebloom, Rabbanit Orit Esther Riter

FOOD & CONTENT Food Editor Aviva Emek Recipe Creators Yossi & Malky Levine Food Styling Malky Levine

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The Wellspring Magazine is published monthly by Wellspring Magazine Inc. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part or in any form without prior written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher reserves the right to edit all articles for clarity, space and editorial sensitivities. The Wellspring Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content or kashrus of advertisements in the publication, nor for the content of books that are referred to or excerpted herein. The contents of The Wellspring Magazine, such as text, graphics and other material (content) are intended for educational purposes only. The content is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health care provider with any questions you have regarding your medical condition.

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EDITOR'S NOTE

was saying, but as she vocalized every mother’s tefillah, I found myself whispering amen in response to each stanza. And when the principal made her remarks on the “sweet but small” event, I found myself shaking my head. No. There was nothing “small” about my daughter’s mastery of the precious letters—the building blocks to communicating with the Eibershter, and reading and understanding His Words.

My five-year-old daughter recently celebrated her aleph-beis siyum.

I know she was ecstatic that the big day finally arrived and couldn’t wait for me to see her performance and hear her solo. I also know that she didn’t begin to grasp the profundity of the event. How could she?

I sat in the audience, surrounded by women I did not know, yet my smile mirrored theirs. Pride. Gratitude.

Nachas. Over the past year, our little ones had mastered the aleph-beis, the foundation and stepping stone to all their future learning.

The girls were dressed up as gift boxes and walked onto stage to the strains of “I am a matanah to the world…” How right they are. They sang about being our precious little presents, entrusted to us by Hashem to raise and mold. Creatively, the songs wove through different themes, as our darlings thanked Hashem for their gift—us. They thanked us, too, for all we do as parents.

I smiled and swallowed quiet tears as the tone shifted again, and our daughters sang about tomorrow, how today we are laying the foundation for all their core beliefs and values. The tears threatened to escape when, with small hand movements and in a highpitched voice, she promised to remember and hold onto her joy for learning, her eagerness to do a mitzvah, and to instill in her own kinderlach the same yesod and mesorah we have inculcated in them.

I know she had no idea what she

The highlight of the event was when the girls held little sifrei Torah aloft and kissed them reverently, thanking Hashem for this priceless treasure. I davened that she would always appreciate the gift she is holding: the instruction manual, the blueprint for her days, the guide to her life. May she always recognize its relevance and necessity, and may it never feel like a burden. May she always realize that the greatest freedom comes when we are tethered to solid ground; that knowing what to do and when to do it gives us security and ensures our success.

me free. It was the ultimate gift of love.

As parents, we strive to make our children’s lives as comfortable and wonderful as possible. It’s that deep devotion that drives us to generously share our sometimes-unwelcome wisdom and instructions. On the flip side, we have young adults who are chafing at the bit, eagerly anticipating freedom. Yet, liberation from guidance can be downright scary.

The world is a vast and lawless place; we need guidance and structure to navigate it safely.

Obviously, Hakol Beseder and human parental devotion will never compete with the Divine love from our Father in Heaven, but it does put our many mitzvos and the specificity of their execution into perspective. My daughter’s siyum performance got it right: The Torah HaKedosha, our guide to life, is the ultimate gift of love. How much richer our lives become when we internalize this profound truth.

In my work with Hakol Beseder, I’ve encountered women who, when introduced to the core principles, feel both excited and hesitant—unsure whether they’re ready to commit to the rules and structure. “I like being spontaneous,” they insist, “I want to feel free!” I explain that, although it may seem counterintuitive, there’s no greater freedom than knowing exactly what needs to be done.

In Yiddishkeit, we don’t merely commemorate the grand events Klal Yisroel experienced; our Yamim Tovim are when we relive and recommit to what transpired. Shavuos is the day our relationship with Hakadosh Baruch Hu was solidified—when He gave us His ultimate expression of devotion, the Torah.

It is also the day that we, as a nation, returned that love with Naaseh v’nishma, our promise to be His forever.

I’m reminded of when I was 18, and my mother went out of town, leaving me in charge. Although I was eager to prove myself and do things my way, I was also nervous about messing up. I vividly recall the relief I felt when my mother handed me a list of precise instructions. It both grounded me and set

On the anniversary of our becoming Hashem’s chosen nation, our hearts ought to be soaring. Never mind the cheesecake or even the flowers—our hearts should be filled with song as we allow the feeling to overtake us, that of being the beloved and treasured children of the King of kings.

tz i v o k h s r e H i r i Tz

tziri@wellspringmagazine.com

WELLSPRING / SIVAN 5785

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SPRINGBOARD

Back Off Pain Issue #110: Community 101 I was just reading the Community 101 article in the April issue of Wellspring. As I read the opening passage I realized that it was my medical issue being discussed! I had submitted the question a while ago, and eagerly read the responses. I now extend my heartfelt thanks to all who responded. I will certainly hold onto this article and will share it with others.

However, I’d like to update your readers on the conclusion of my saga.

It turns out that I had been misdiagnosed. The root of my pain was not sciatica. After enduring over six months of discomfort, I finally returned to my endocrinologist in tears, and said, “Now what? It’s only getting worse.” I suggested having an MRI of my hip, which my physical therapist had recommended, as my range of motion was severely limited. The MRI revealed that I was in dire need of a new hip.

It’s been ten weeks since my surgery, and I am incredibly grateful. What a blessing it is to have access to such advanced medical technology. I can now

walk again without pain. Hodu l'Hashem ki tov!

After my experience with this misdiagnosis, I have heard that this is not a rare occurrence. I would advise anyone suffering from prolonged back pain to consult with an orthopedist and perhaps have their hips checked out.

Thank you, Wellspring Magazine, for the invaluable information within your pages. There’s always so much of interest and relevance. May we all enjoy continued health and well-being.

Wishing everyone a gezunte summer!

Miriam Liebermann

Egg-celent Advice Issue #111: Mother Hen Kudos on the fascinating new column. As I go through my long-awaited pregnancy, I’m devouring every bit of advice and insight I can find— and I’m surprised by how much isn’t well known. My doctors cover the basics, but so much is either outdated or barely mentioned. I was espe-

cially intrigued by the powerhouse of nutrients in eggs, though I do wonder how to get the memo to my tiny unhatched eggling, who seems firmly opposed to me eating them.

Any ideas?

Jackie I., Hillside, New Jersey

Functional Fixes Issue #111: Health News Roundup In our busy lives, it’s easy to push certain concerns aside when there’s so much else to focus on. But then you remind us that our health should be a priority—and suddenly, it seems so obvious. Of course it should!

The Health News piece about microplastics finally inspired me to make a change. I had heard about the dangers before, but I had long given up on the idea of avoiding them—it seemed they were everywhere. Yet the practical advice you offered felt doable. I now avoid drinking water that has been sitting in plastic bottles and instead drink filtered tap water. I’ve also gone back to using wooden cutting boards.

GET IN TOUCH Wellspring invites readers to submit letters and comments via email to info@wellspringmagazine.com. We reserve the right to edit all submissions and will withhold your name upon request. We will honor requests for anonymity, but we cannot consider letters that arrive without contact information.

14

WELLSPRING / JUNE 2025

Any health information, advice, or suggestions published here are the opinion of the letter writer and are not independently investigated, endorsed, or validated by Wellspring. Always seek the advice of a qualified health professional or medical practitioner regarding any medical advice, condition, or treatment.

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SPRINGBOARD

Quick Question Question: My obstetrician prescribed Zofran for my nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It has helped somewhat, but I have no appetite and am suffering from headaches. Is there something I can do to help myself without medication?

Answer: Yes, certainly. You should consult a nutritionist that can help figure out which foods are causing your nausea. It is important to avoid eating and drinking at the same time, as that can exacerbate the nausea. It can also be very helpful to start your day with dry crackers and only drink an hour later. And finally, there are homeopathic remedies, such as ipecacuanha, which can be very effective.

Mimi Schweid, Health Consultant

I know these changes are small, but they feel actionable and worthwhile.

Ultimately, our health and wellbeing are in Hashem’s hands, but the hishtadlus is ours.

Thank you for the wealth of information in every issue. Wishing you much hatzlachah going forward!

Breindel C. L., Monticello, New York

Normalize This Issue #110: Well Asked I just read your response to the question in the April Wellspring issue. I think the response was wonderful.

However, I was very troubled by your paragraph about kibbud av v’eim.

Considering all the parental alienation that rabbanim are currently dealing

16

WELLSPRING / JUNE 2025

with, I felt it was not proper at all.

There are many wonderful therapists today, but there are also many who advise adult children that their emotional wellbeing comes first, encouraging them to set boundaries or to completely disconnect from parents—even when it’s unwarranted. “Emotional wellbeing” can too often become an easy excuse. While I understand that there are definitely situations that warrant such measures, those situations must be truly severe.

The woman who wrote in shared her feelings—that she never felt welcome, they view her as inferior, and her childhood insecurities and misgivings resurface in their presence. Most likely, as you yourself noted, she has issues stemming from childhood, which she should try to work through with a therapist. However, to make light of kibbud av v’eim, one of the most fundamental mitzvos, in a situation where the person has personal issues to resolve, is wrong.

You wrote, “Don’t assume that kibbud av v’eim trumps everything.

Chayecha kodmin—your first and primary obligation is your own well-being.” To plant that seed so readily is to send a very misguided message. Suggesting that she speak to a rav is appropriate, but implying something as drastic and painful—to both child and parent—goes too far.

I apologize for the criticism, but I felt I would be remiss if I didn’t share my concern.

Esther S.

WELLSPRING responds: We wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment that the prevalence of parental alienation is tragic and, far too often, unwarranted. To clarify, we want to stress that there was no recommendation for parental alienation in any way. The letter writer was ad-

vised to seek rabbinic guidance regarding her relationship with her in-laws, especially if they had clearly communicated that she was unwelcome or unworthy. In extreme cases— though thankfully rare—keeping a distance can indeed be necessary, but it must always be done in accordance with the guidance of one’s rav.

That being said, after consulting with numerous mental health professionals and rabbanim regarding the “trend” of parental alienation, it has become clear that it is a heart-rending issue, often causing more harm than any perceived benefit. We deeply regret if our mention of it inadvertently seemed to normalize a choice that is always tragic and, too frequently, catastrophic.

Well Timed Issue #111: Hakol Beseder A big thank you to Tziri Hershkovitz for reintroducing me to the humble timer— what Hakol Beseder affectionately calls our “ultimate best friend.” It’s been a while since we were inseparable, but back then, the timer had my back, keeping me on track and motivating me with every little beep. Somewhere along the way, we drifted apart... and, naturally, my productivity took the hit. My old timer has officially bitten the dust, so I think it’s time to trade up for a shinier, more efficient model. Not my most loyal move, I admit—but hey, I’m sure the timer would get it.

After all, a true best friend would probably want me to succeed.

Pearlie Klein, Monsey, New York

SPIRITUAL EATING

By Rabbi Eli Glaser, CNWC, CWMS

A Taste for Torah

Chazal give us a fascinating insight into one aspect of preparation that Moshe undertook to make himself fit to speak with Hashem and stand on Har Sinai to receive the Torah.

The Gemara in Sotah (12b) tells us that Miriam followed the infant Moshe as he floated down the river. After she saw him taken out of the water by Basya bas Pharaoh, she asked if she should find a Jewish wet nurse from whom he would feed. Why? Because Moshe, through ruach hakodesh, refused to take milk from Egyptian women.

The Gemara teaches that it was not fitting for the same mouth that would speak with the Creator of the Universe to nurse from women who ate nonkosher food, causing Moshe to taste the treifus transmitted through the milk. Even as a young infant, Moshe was preparing himself to communicate with Hashem and be the transmitter of His Torah.

However, the halachah states that it is permissible for a Jewish child to nurse from a non-Jewish woman (Rama, Yoreh Deah 81:7); the nonkosher food the wet-nurse consumes does not render her milk treif. Nonetheless, the halachah says it is certainly preferable, if possible, for a Jewish child to nurse from a Jewish woman who only eats kosher food.

The commentators therefore conclude that this is the reason Moshe refused the Egyptian women. It wasn’t a kashrus issue per se; rather, he instinctively desired to elevate himself by ensuring a higher level of sanctity when it came to the food (milk) he put in his mouth—for he would use his mouth to communicate with Hashem and teach Torah to Klal Yisrael.

This lesson is very appropriate for us as we approach Shavuos. Not only must we maintain our exemplary standards of kashrus, but we should also understand that the quality of the

We use our mouths to learn and daven— sublime acts that give us the opportunity to transcend the mundane.

food we put in our mouths has a direct impact on our physical health and spiritual wellbeing.

We use our mouths to learn and daven—sublime acts that give us the opportunity to transcend the mundane. Should the same mouth that communicates with our Father in Heaven blurt out hurtful speech or consume unhealthy foods?

“Ma’aseh avos siman le’banim—The actions of our fathers are indicators for the children.” Shouldn’t we learn from Moshe that even if something is technically kosher, it might still not be in our best interest to eat? We can’t claim ignorance of the harmful effects many non-nutritious foods have on us. We must do all we can to elevate our bodies to most effectively carry out the commandments Hashem has given us. Do we need Divine inspiration to do so? Or can we simply internalize this lesson from Moshe’s youth and use it to inform our choices regarding our eating behaviors?

Rabbi Eli Glaser, CNWC, CWMS, is the founder and director of Soveya and the author of the best-selling book Enough Is Enough—How the Soveya Solution Is Revolutionizing the Diet and Weight-Loss World, available on Amazon and at Barnes & Nobles and Judaica Plaza in Lakewood. He has worked with thousands of clients around the world and has maintained a 130-pound weight loss for the last 19 years. For more information about Soveya’s programs call 732-578-8800, email info@soveya.com, or visit www.soveya.com.

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WELLSPRING / JUNE 2025

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TORAH WELLSPRING

By Rabbi YY Rubinstein

The Other ADHD

The other day, I was learning with one of my talmidim. As is too often my habit, I veered off the text we were learning in hot pursuit of an idea that popped into my head.

When I finished explaining the idea—to which I, of course, added by including a story as well—I apologized for taking him on a diversion. My talmid laughed and exclaimed, “Oh, don’t apologize. I have ADHD and diversions are exactly what I like best! It’s staying on the road for too long that I find difficult.”

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and it afflicts adults and kids alike. To oversimplify the condition, it’s when kids are unable to concentrate like most other kids can. As a consequence, they often behave badly in class and elsewhere due to boredom, frustration, distractions, and a host of other reasons.

20

and frequency of a condition that a generation or two ago was unheard of? Has it always existed but was previously seen simply as bad behavior in undisciplined or hyperintelligent and misunderstood kids? Or is it like the peanut allergy, which was also almost completely unknown but appeared suddenly and is now an undeniable and real condition? We know there are foods and stimuli that evidently exacerbate the symptoms, but what about those few therapists who claim that ADHD doesn’t exist at all?”

The above suggests that the answers to my three questions when put to some of the leading authorities in the field are, “Don’t know,” “Might be,” and “Maybe.”

There is, though, a close relative of this kind of ADHD and, confusingly, it uses the same initials. This time the acronym stands for “Attempts at Davening Hopeless Disorder.”

I was surprised to find that he struggled to offer an opinion.

When I started looking at the literature on the subject, I saw that many psychologists and psychiatrists share my friend’s reticence about expressing a definitive position about ADHD.

The statistics say that approximately 10 percent of children in every classroom suffer from this condition. This means that most children who don't themselves have to contend with ADHD symptoms will still be affected by it through other kids who do.

Dr. Eric Pease is a child and adolescent psychiatrist. He points to the unreliability of the science of ADHD. Dr. Pease admits that no one is actually sure what causes it and adds, “First of all, we’re not very good at tracking the epidemiology of ADHD. It’s not necessarily a reportable diagnosis. Some of the data we rely on is not super valid or super scientific.”

I recently discussed ADHD with a well-known psychologist from England who is a personal friend of mine. I asked him, “What accounts for the spread

Dr. Angela Mattke, the medical editor of Mayo Clinic Guide to Raising a Healthy Child, says, “Americans throw around the term so casually, it’s easy to

WELLSPRING / JUNE 2025

lose track of what ADHD actually means. We might know the basics—trouble paying attention, getting distracted, or hyperactive behavior. But some of those things are also part of just being a kid, or even an adult.”

Once again, the sufferer finds themselves simply unable to concentrate and focus on the task at hand when the thing in the hand is a siddur.

What about those few therapists who claim that ADHD doesn’t exist at all?

The diversions I often take when I am giving my shiurim are nothing at all compared to the diversions my mind takes when I am trying to speak to the Borei Olam. I sometimes finish the Amidah and ask myself, “Did I say Yaaleh Ve’yavo?”

Then I immediately pause and think, “Did I say anything?”

I am not alone in struggling with this problem. One of my closest friends and a chavrusa for many years was an outstanding talmid chacham. He enjoyed universal affection and admiration as a teacher and

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Real Fruit. Real good WELLSPRING / SIVAN 5785

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TORAH WELLSPRING

speaker. He once confided in me that he too suffered from the other and older ADHD and told me of his frustration: “I get some of the best ideas for my shiurim in the middle of Shemoneh Esrei!”

In my experience teaching in yeshivas and seminaries, when a young man or woman of the serious kind asks to come to discuss a problem, it is often about their inability to keep their minds on davening and in having a meaningful “conversation” with the Borei Olam.

This version of ADHD then has much in common with its modern iteration, but unlike the contemporary version, it is a very old complaint indeed.

The Ramban, for example, who lived in the thirteenth century, wrote to his son about the affliction and offered advice on how to overcome it: “Remove all thoughts about your worldly preoccupations and concerns when the time comes to pray.

Focus your heart on Hashem and purify your thoughts.”

A well-known rav always gave bar mitzvah boys the present of a siddur. Inside he would write, “I wanted to give you everything…and this is the key!”

Just how much tefillah is the “key” to “everything” was shown in a remarkable piece of research published by the Duke Clinical Research Institute in 2001.

In a pilot study, 150 heart patients were randomized into five groups. One group received standard, high-tech cardiac care, while each of the other groups received one out of four additional non-pharmacolog-

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ical therapies. One of the four options was that people prayed for them.

Duke cardiologist and project codirector Mitchell Krucoff explained, “In the prayer therapy group, there was an astonishing 50 percent overall reduction in post-surgery complications.”

Krucoff noted that these early findings were interesting enough to merit a phase two study, which is now underway.

He said that intercessory prayer has also shown promising results in preliminary studies with infertile couples.

That is another interesting difference between the “two” ADHDs. As we have seen, the scientific evidence for exactly what causes the new kind, what cures it, and if it is a real phenomenon at all is ambiguous.

Yet, the scientific evidence for the benefits of overcoming “Attempts at Davening Hopeless Disorder” have been proven— especially to Klal Yisrael—for nearly four thousand years.

Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov—and especially their wives—knew that overcoming

Of course he was incorrect.

Neither I, nor any parent, can guarantee to protect our child from the dangers and threats the world is so full of.

the “other” ADHD and connecting directly to Hashem through tefillah can bring a person every single blessing, from health to wealth and children.

Moshe Rabbeinu showed that praying for Jews who are in trouble, which in his case meant every single member of Klal Yisrael, could change even the worst prognosis for the Jewish People into blessings.

David Hamelech’s entire life was about connecting to Hashem without disturbance or diversion. He wrote an entire sefer on the subject and called it Tehillim.

And I have a theory about the old ADHD and the reason it is one of the favorite weapons of the Satan. This paraphrases a famous statement of my great rebbi, Rav Matisyahu Salomon zt”l, who once spoke about lashon hara and why it too seems like such an intractable and insurmountable problem for Klal Yisrael: “It isn’t a problem. It is a symptom of a problem.”

Every doctor knows he has to treat the symptoms of a disease.

But more critically, he has to discover the source of the disease and eradicate that in order to eliminate it for good.

I think that the source of the problem of the other ADHD—the “Attempts at Davening Hopeless Disorder” kind— hinges on the depth of our relationship with Hashem.

One of my sons, who is now a successful rav of a large kehillah, once told me how he felt as a very small child: “When you cuddled me in my bed until I fell asleep, I felt that nothing in the world could harm me.”

Of course he was incorrect. Neither I, nor any parent, can guarantee to protect our child from the myriad dangers and threats and potential pitfalls the world is so full of. But Hashem—Avinu Malkeinu—can.

We can start to treat the source of the other ADHD by making our relationship to Him as real and strong as it is to our flesh-and-blood father and mother. In a healthy relationship, turning to our parents when we need help, to seek advice, or to simply share our good news and achievements is natural and instinctive.

I was once discussing with Rav Salomon how people often start learning the famous Shaar Habitachon of the Chovos Halevavos when they face a crisis. He agreed and added, “If Rabbeinu Bachya ibn Pekuda had not written Shaar Habitachon [around a thousand years ago], it would have had to be developed as a therapy!” Our generation is in dire mental and emotional need of security and connection, and this sefer

offers the definitive source in building a relationship with Hashem. There are other sefarim—both Chassidish and Litvish—that offer this therapy too, and Tehillim, of course, is one of those.

Hashem always creates the refuah before He creates the disease. The “other” ADHD—that very old condition—has to be treated at its source by working hard to develop a real and fundamental relationship with our Father in Shamayim.

As the Ramban said to his son, “Remove all thoughts about worldly preoccupations and concerns when the time comes to pray. Focus your heart on Hashem.”

Only He holds the cure to everything, including ADHD, both the old kind… and the new.

UK born, Rabbi YY Rubinstein learned in the famous Gateshead Yeshiva for ten years where he received semicha. He is an international speaker and the author of fourteen books. His latest, "Never Alone,” for teens and young adults who've lost a parent, arrived in bookstores this year.

HEALTH NEWS

HEALTH NEWS ROUNDUP

By Pnina Schoss

What Time Is Coffee Time?

A new study published in the European Heart Journal has found that people who primarily drink coffee in the morning may have a lower risk of dying prematurely—especially from heart disease—compared to those who drink coffee throughout the day or not at all. The findings suggest that not just how much coffee you drink, but when you drink it, could influence long-term health outcomes. While previous studies have shown that moderate coffee consumption is generally linked to health benefits, including lower risks of cardiovascular disease and death, results have been mixed—particularly for people who drink large amounts of coffee. Scientists suspected that differences in drinking habits, such as the time of day people consume coffee, might explain some of the inconsistencies in earlier findings.

“Coffee drinking may affect circadian rhythm related behaviors such as sleeping and hormones such as melatonin and cortisol, which are relevant to health. Therefore, the time of coffee drinking may impact health,” says Lu Qi, a professor at Tulane University. The reduction in risk was even greater for deaths related to heart disease: morning coffee drinkers were 31 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular causes than non-coffee drinkers. In contrast, people who drank coffee throughout the day did not have a statistically significant reduction in risk compared to non-coffee drinkers.

Omega-6 Promotes Breast Cancer Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, has been found to specifically enhance the growth of the hard-to-treat “triple negative” breast cancer subtype, according to a preclinical study led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The discovery could lead to new dietary strategies against breast and other cancers. In the study, published March 14 in Science, the researchers found that linoleic acid can activate a major growth pathway in tumor cells by binding to a protein called FABP5.

Comparing breast cancer subtypes, the team observed that this growth pathway activation occurs in triple-negative tumor cells, where FABP5 is particularly abundant, but not in other hormone-sensitive subtypes. In a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer, a diet high in linoleic acid enhanced tumor growth.

“This discovery helps clarify the relationship between dietary fats and cancer, and sheds light on how to define which patients might benefit the most from specific nutritional recommendations in a personalized manner,” said study senior author Dr. John Blenis. The abundance of this diet-derived fat in Western-style diets has increased significantly since the 1950s, coinciding with the increased usage of seed oils in ultra-processed foods. This has led to concerns that excessive omega-6 intake might be one of the explanations for rising rates of breast cancers.

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Clearing Brain Waste Improves Memory

Vitamin D for MS Researchers from institutions across France have uncovered solid clinical evidence that supplements of vitamin D could be an effective treatment for the neurodegenerative condition multiple sclerosis (MS). Found in a small number of foods such as fatty fish, eggs, and to some degree, mushrooms, vitamin D is typically converted from other compounds in our body on exposure to sunlight. However we get it, the chemical plays an important role in absorbing calcium from the gut, as well as immune functions, cell growth, metabolism, and neuromuscular activity.

Vitamin D deficiency has previously been identified as a risk factor for MS, a condition in which the body attacks the protective sheaths surrounding its own nerve cells.

Researchers therefore conducted a trial with 303 participants diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS); a condition that partly resembles and often develops into MS. Giving just over half of the volunteers a hefty nightly dose of vitamin D supplements and the other half a placebo over the course of two years, the researchers found that those in the vitamin group showed fewer lesions on the brain and spinal cord. The findings were considered statistically significant enough to confirm vitamin D could help prevent at least some of the damage done

by CIS and MS as the immune system attacks the body.

As we get older, the essential cleaning processes that our brains need to keep functioning start to break down and fail. In new research, scientists have figured out how to boost waste removal cycles in the brains of mice—with dramatic effects on their memory. Led by a team from Washington University in St. Louis, the research focuses on vessels around the brain called meningeal lymphatics—the brain-cleaners-in-chief. These vessels are part of the larger lymphatic system in the body, responsible for waste disposal and helping the immune system. The researchers used a targeted protein treatment on older mice to help these meningeal lymphatics grow and operate. In subsequent experiments, the treated mice were shown to have improved memory function compared to untreated animals. Though not yet available for the masses, this new work could potentially slow down or prevent dementia. As well as boosting the mice’s memory, the lymphatics treatment reduced interleukin 6 levels, restoring order to this part of the immune system and preventing some of the damage in the brain caused by stress.

By targeting a network of vessels outside of the brain that is critical for brain health, the researchers saw cognitive improvements in mice, opening a window to developing more powerful therapies to prevent or delay cognitive decline.

HEALTH NEWS

HEALTH NEWS ROUNDUP

Researchers Discover New Class of Antibiotics The last time a new class of antibiotics reached the market was nearly three decades ago—but that could soon change, thanks to a discovery by researchers at McMaster University. A team led by researcher Gerry Wright has identified a strong candidate to challenge even some of the most drug-resistant bacteria on the planet: a new molecule called lariocidin. The discovery of the all-new class of antibiotics responds to a critical need for new antimicrobial medicines, as bacteria and other microorganisms evolve new ways to withstand existing drugs. This phenomenon is called antimicrobial resistance—or AMR—and it’s one of the top global public health threats, according to the World Health Organization.

“Our old drugs are becoming less and less effective as bacteria become more and more resistant to them,” explains Wright. “About 4.5 million people die every year due to antibiotic-resistant infections, and it’s only getting worse.”

Wright and his team found that the new molecule, a lasso peptide, holds great promise as an early drug lead because it attacks bacteria in a way that’s different from other antibiotics. Lariocidin binds directly to a bacterium’s protein in a completely new way, inhibiting its ability to grow and survive. “This is a new molecule with a new mode of action,” Wright says. “It’s a big leap forward for us.”

Lithium Linked with Reduced Dementia Risk Researchers have found that lithium use is linked to a reduced risk of developing dementia.

In this research, scientists looked back at medical records from nearly 30,000 UK volunteers including 548 people exposed to lithium, the majority of whom received it as a treatment for bipolar disorder. In those exposed to lithium, 9.7 percent of patients were also subsequently diagnosed with dementia. In those that weren’t exposed to lithium, 11.2 percent of people went on to develop dementia. The results of this study suggest that people prescribed lithium were less likely to develop dementia.

The researchers also analyzed data from users of mental health services, and only a small number of participants were taking lithium. While medical professionals need to be careful before they generalize the findings to the wider population, the results do highlight a possible link between the two, and further work is ongoing. Alzheimer’s Research UK is now funding further scientific study at the University of Newcastle to see whether lithium could be a future treatment for Alzheimer’s disease using a new brain imaging technique. This project will help lay the groundwork for careful clinical trials that will determine whether lithium could be an effective treatment for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

no r f idge needed

Snack It Toss It Top It Enjoy perfectly-shredded, crispy Cheese’A’Lech as a snack, garnish, or to uplevel soups, salads, and pasta.

Great source of protein

WELLSPRING / SIVAN 5785

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HEALTH NEWS

HEALTH NEWS ROUNDUP

Sugary Drinks Disrupt Human Organs We’ve been warned repeatedly that sugary beverages are bad for us and are associated with a variety of diseases, but many researchers feel that the hows and whys have perhaps not been communicated clearly. So, before reaching for that next can of cola, consider this study in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, which shows the effects such drinks have on individual organs, as well as overall physical, molecular, and metabolic processes in the body.

Although researchers in India used mice while studying the effects of sugary beverages on the body, their methods closely mimic how we consume sweet drinks and should closely mirror the effects on human organs. The scientists fed mice solutions that contained 10 percent sucrose and then examined its effects, organ by organ. The most significant impact they saw was in the small intestine, which appears to play a major role in systemic glucose imbalance. Excessive sucrose consumption appears to cause a “molecular addiction” in the intestinal lining. Essentially, the intestine gives priority to glucose absorption, putting uptake of essential nutrients like amino acids and fats in the back of the queue.

The authors note that the study’s implications are twofold. First, it provides evidence of exactly how excess sugar interferes with key organs in the body that affect metabolism.

Second, the awareness that glucose gets priority in absorption provides some unique approaches to treating metabolic disorders.

The Downside of MRI Scans University of New Mexico researchers studied the health risks posed by gadolinium, a toxic rare earth metal used in MRI scans. The gadolinium-based contrast agents are injected prior to MRI scans to help create sharper images. The researchers discovered that for some people, minute amounts of gadolinium separated from the contrast agent and formed nanoparticles, which then infiltrated the cells of various organs, causing damage. Interestingly, and almost ironically, it was noted that oxalic acid is responsible for binding with the nanoparticles of metal and getting into human tissue. Oxalic acid is present in many foods, most notably, plant-based foods, including spinach, rhubarb, most nuts and berries, chocolate, and foods and supplements containing vitamin C. Before proceeding with this newsbit, it is important to note that MRIs are generally used to diagnose when no other tools are adequate. When necessary, the MRI can be a lifesaver. Unnecessary exploratory tests, though, should be avoided.

In a study published in the journal Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a team led by Brent Wagner, MD, explained the formation of the nanoparticles, which have been associated with serious health problems in the kidneys and other organs. “The worst disease caused by MRI contrast agents is nephrogenic systemic fibrosis,” he said. “People have succumbed after just a single dose.” The condition can cause a thickening of skin and connective tissues in patients with impaired kidney function. Reassuringly, the metal is tightly bound to other molecules and is usually excreted from the body, so most people experience no adverse effects. However, previous research has shown that even in those with no symptoms, gadolinium particles have been found in the kidney and the brain and can be detected in the blood and urine years after exposure.

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FEATURE

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Our Eternal Flame And we dance at every new ember lit…

As soon as we hear the strains of music and see the dancing surrounding a tightly embraced Sefer Torah, we feel it. The air shifts slightly and there’s a soft light and sweet joy that envelopes our hearts. This experience isn’t reserved for the sensitive or serious souls; it is universal.

Anyone in possession of a Yiddishe neshamah, whoever was present at Matan Torah, feels it.

It’s an event that transcends all barriers.

Irrespective of lifestyle or values, at a hachnasas Sefer Torah, every Yid is a baal simchah.

By Tziri Hershkovitz

WELLSPRING / SIVAN 5785

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Community “Living in a busy city, there are many shuls on the blocks around us,” Chana shares.

“Hearing “Elyonim sasu” is a frequent occurrence, and on some Sundays in the busy seasons, we’ve had as many as three hachnasos Sefer Torah on the same day! Still, whenever the music starts, we are all on the front porch, smiling and clapping along. We might not know the people dancing downstairs—we don’t even have to know which shul they are heading to—but we know the Torah scroll they are holding. It is ours as much as it is theirs. It’s our possession and our connection to each other and to Hashem.

“At every hachnasas Sefer Torah, I feel a part of it. Not only of the event, but of Klal Yisrael.

My precise role doesn’t matter much; just knowing that I belong is enough.”

In a day awake with wonder, brilliant sounds of thunder, we stood shoulder to shoulder.

We all heard it then and we all feel it now. The gift we were granted still lives on, precisely the same as it ever was, and no different than it will ever be.

Continuity “It is difficult to articulate,” Devora says, “because I don’t know if I’m consciously thinking it as I watch the procession, but I feel it. For generations, hundreds of years, thousands of years, we have held onto the same Torah, the same words, the same instructions. There are few times that we feel that direct connection. We have it

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with Shabbos, and with Pesach, but somehow, the Sefer Torah feels like a direct line, a solid, immovable connection to Hashem’s word.

“Do I think about it then or am I only thinking about it now?” she muses. “I don't know. At an hachnasas Sefer Torah, I don’t think I think much. I just feel.”

It’s been exactly 3,333 years since Matan Torah, and the Torah remains unchanged.

Each time the Torah is written, she is transcribed word for word. Not a single aspect has been altered; not a law, not a word, not a solitary dot. In a fast-paced world where everything and everyone evolves, it boggles the mind that through the storms of history, through massive changes in lifestyle and technological advances, revolutions and societal overhauls, so much has so drastically transformed, yet something has remained constant.

“I’m a history buff,” Kayla says. “I’m forever fascinated by how the Middle Ages gave us countless philosophers, scientists, societies, and pivotal events, but eventually they all faded into the pages of history books. In contrast, out of that same era emerged the words of Rashi and the monumental teachings of the Rambam—to name a few—as vibrant and alive as ever and still holding the world in their thrall.

“Way earlier than that, there was the Roman Empire, which exerted massive cultural dominance. We were under its rule yet lived by a different doctrine—and while the Roman Empire has long since fallen,

the words of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai are alive as ever.

“As archeologists uncover long forgotten cultures and creatures, time and again, their findings only reinforce what has for centuries been known and studied in the words of Gemara.”

It’s been exactly 3,333 years since Matan Torah, and the Torah remains unchanged.

Not a single aspect has been altered; not a law, not a word, not a solitary dot.

Captivating “My grandfather was fascinated by science,” Leah says.

“He was also a very learned talmid chacham. He used to say that there’s nothing science will discover that hasn’t already been spelled out in the Torah. As a kid, I recall being fascinated; as a teen, I was skeptical; and as an adult, I am moved and inspired. In Koheles, Shlomo Hamelech writes, ‘Ein kol chadash tachas ha’shemesh—There is nothing new under the sun.’ With the Torah being the blueprint for all of creation, it is quite impossible for scientists to con-

ceive of concepts Hashem has not already implanted into briah.”

As we travel through the sands of time, we encounter new discoveries and developments, terrifying atrocities and mind-blowing technological advances, but in the end, it all goes according to plan. There are no surprises to the One Who scripted our story and spelled it out clearly in the greatest Book of all time—the Torah that belongs to us all.

Connection

feel elevated and connected on High. The pintele Yid awakens and smiles. And cries with longing. Because in this pure moment of connection, we come face to face with our identity and purpose.

Freeda’s son went through a challenging phase in his late teens and early twenties.

When the dust settled, Freeda was relieved that he seemed stable, but she was heartbroken that he had dropped all outward appearances of his former chassidish life.

At every hachnasas Sefer Torah, we hear the strains of “Elyonim sasu ve’tachtonim alzu…be’kabbalas Torah miSinai—The angels above exalted, and the humans below rejoiced, at receiving the Torah at Sinai…”

“I often wondered where Nachman stood,” she relates.

“I wept copious tears that he find his way back to Hashem. I had no way of knowing whether the yarmulke was perfunctory or actually functional. And it wasn’t my place to ask.

As the familiar song begins to play, hearts feel lighter and beat faster, and we somehow

“When my brother-in-law wrote a Sefer Torah, Nachman came for the grand

So gently, so reverently, he reached for the Sefer Torah.

With tears in his eyes, he kissed it softly and then held it close as he danced.

event. I still get emotional when I remember how Nachman, so gently, so reverently, reached for the Sefer Torah.

With tears in his eyes, he kissed it softly and then held it close as he danced. There was such obvious respect and love for the Divine word; my heart soared.

“Now, every time I become anxious about how differently he lives his life, I remind myself that although he may have embraced a different form of avodas Hashem, most importantly, he is still connected to Him.” “Eitz chaim hi la’machazikim bah—The Torah is the tree of life, for those who connect to Her.” Clarion Call We all understand our true purpose in life. When we pause to give it thought, we know the real reason for our existence. But despite our

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FEATURE

good intentions, life gets in the way. Glorious, beautiful, wonderful life has a way of taking our focus off the goal.

“I see a hachnasas Sefer Torah as a wake-up call, a reminder. In our day-to-day lives, we get caught up with our responsibilities, and they truly are all important. I dislike when people insist that we are caught up in gashmiyus, because gashmiyus is the sustenance of life. My kids need good food, clean and pretty clothing, and a nice, orderly home. And then there are the appointments and other projects. They’re not materialism, but they are gashmiyus; they are all important aspects of our lives.

“And then I attend a hachnasas Sefer Torah and there’s a stark reminder right in front of me. A wake-up call. This is our purpose, our mission, our direction.”

And in her quiet way, the Torah reminds us that only she is eternal in this world. Our own sojourn here is temporary.

We have the same Torah for the rich and the poor, the talmidei chachamim and the laymen, the water carrier two thousand years ago and the most tech-savvy yungerman in today’s generation. Our purpose is to serve Hashem, irrespective of our role and challenges in life.

In a nod to our awareness of the finitude of life and as a final gift for a neshamah that can no longer accomplish for itself, families and friends have often taken to writing a Sefer Torah in memory of a loved one. The Sefer Torah brings solace, its words touching eternity; it is a lasting remembrance and tremendous zechus for the neshamah.

There’s reassurance that no matter what happens, the Torah is always there. A guidepost. A lighthouse. An immovable, unalterable, and reassuring, solid presence.

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tion offered him any gift of his choosing. Most children opt for a fun week at Disney World; others may come up with a different exciting and memorable experience. But Shaul knew that at the end of the day, only one thing truly mattered. With remarkable maturity and inspiring clarity, the young teen requested the most unusual gift the Foundation had ever granted. But despite the irregularity, they agreed to forward the money and a beautiful Sefer Torah was written through Shaul Niyazov for his shul. That Sefer Torah is a permanent statement of values and priorities; a treasure that will live on for generations.

Comfort

Courage

Gitti recalls, “Exactly one year after losing my uncle, on a cold Motzaei Shabbos, the family made a hachnasas Sefer Torah, le’iluy nishmas a special life cut short.

When Shaul Niyazov a”h was battling his brain tumor, the Make a Wish Founda-

“I thought back to when we had first received the news. I’d sat in the corner and watched

WELLSPRING / JUNE 2025

In her quiet way, the Torah reminds us that only she is eternal in this world.

Our own sojourn here is temporary.

the crowd swell. Emotions ran high as tears streamed down our faces unchecked.

Heads bowed, hearts broken, we walked down the stairs, the words ‘Baruch Dayan Ha’emes’ reverberating in our minds. We stepped into the icy cold, the frost mirroring our frozen hearts as we silently walked down the street and followed him on his last journey. He was going home.

“And then, a year later, I sat in the same corner as I watched the crowd swell. Once again, emotions ran high as tears streamed down our faces unchecked. This time, there was music swirling all around us— in us—as we celebrated the completion of a Sefer Torah in his memory. The men were dancing with abandon and our hearts danced right along with them. This time, our heads were held high as we walked down the stairs with the men singing. We stepped into the street to the crowd waiting below, their smiles matching our overflowing hearts, as we joyously followed the Torah on its journey. It was going home.”

In a very large sense throughout the ages, and in the minutest details of our day-to-day lives, the Torah lives and breathes. She guides, she connects, she entrusts and inspires. She is our purest, truest possession that can never be stolen. On Shavuos, we commemorate receiving the ultimate expression of Divine love, and we reciprocate in our own limited way as we sing with genuine joy and devotion, “U’va’u chulam bi’vris yachad naaseh ve’nishma amru ke’echad.”

Nechemia Meir’s Torah

Nechemia Meir is a precious 15-month-old little boy, born with Down syndrome and being raised by the unflappable and loving couple, Yaffa and Yitzy Gluck.

“He had a rough first year,” Yaffa says. “It involved a marathon of medical interventions to resolve the many issues affecting him. When he turned one, we decided it was time to look toward the future. We recognize that Nechemia Meir’s life experiences may not be those of a typical child and some mitzvos may be beyond his reach. That awareness just motivates us even more to give him the ultimate opportunity: a Sefer Torah written for him.”

The Glucks were inspired by the story of their friends in Far Rockaway who recently achieved the seemingly impossible.

“A Sefer Torah is the ultimate mitzvah—and it comes with a price to match,” Yaffa explains.

“We don’t really have the means for it, but then, neither did our friends!

They conceived of the most ingenious solution and showed that the lack of money needn’t be a deterrent. Two years ago, their community in Woodmere, New York, celebrated a beautiful hachnasas Sefer Torah for the entire community upon the completion of a massive team effort.”

The funds for this amazing venture came from the most unlikely of sources: recyclable bottles, refunded five cents a time. It began as an idea that some thought odd, but others found inspiring.

“The average family tosses between three and five dollars’ worth of recyclables over the course of a week,” Yaffa explains. “Just imagine what that could amount to if we bothered cashing them in!”

The funds for the Far Rockaway Sefer Torah were collected in under five years. The organizers insisted on not taking any cash donations. All donations were made in forms of bottles, but as the word spread, multiple communities created drop-off sites—and drop-off days—with additional organizers driving around to pick up the bottles on designated days.

“My husband and I decided, why not do the same for Nechemia Meir?”

Yaffa says. “We were told to be prepared to pay somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 dollars, and that it takes approximately a year to write it. According to that math, we have ten years to get to our goal, but we are hoping to make it happen sooner.”

Whoever hears about the Glucks’ endeavor is eager to contribute and participate in this huge mitzvah. Yaffa is a teacher at Ateres Bais Yaakov and she is positively charmed by her young charges’ idealism and desire to take part and help out.

“I have students who collect bottles and then schlep them to school daily to add to our weekly deposits,” she shares proudly.

“There are so many lessons we’ve learned in the few short months since this project began. I marvel at how this venture is bringing families together and making us aware of how we all matter. I have a family member who is not frum, but she consistently contributes. She’s so overwhelmed and moved by this project, about how every little bit adds up. It might seem like little acts don’t matter. Indeed, five cents are inconsequential on their own. But no matter how small the act, when we keep doing it, it adds up to something big.”

In every regard, on every level, the Torah has a way of bringing us all together.

To join this amazing venture, reach out to the Glucks at 443.453.6814 or 845.553.0911

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SLEEP SMARTS

WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR SLEEP?

By Doron Lazarus, Integrative Sleep Coach (Disclaimer: The following article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your physician with any health concerns.)

Sleep is one of the most essential pillars of health, yet it’s also one of the most overlooked. We tend to push through exhaustion, chug coffee, and soldier on, telling ourselves it’s just stress or a busy schedule. But when poor sleep becomes chronic, it’s not just frustrating—it can be life-altering.

As a sleep coach, I work with people across the Jewish world who are suffering from sleep issues ranging from mild restlessness to full-blown insomnia. And one of the first questions I get asked is “Do I need to see a doctor for this?”

It’s a good question—and an important one.

Step One: Rule Out Anything Obvious (or Serious)

Step Two: Begin the Inner Work

Let’s start with the basics. If you’re struggling with your sleep and it’s been going on for a while, it’s wise—even necessary—to first visit your primary care physician.

Assuming your basic labs and physical exam come back normal, and your doctor doesn’t identify any red flags, then what? That’s where your real sleep journey begins.

Why? Because sometimes poor sleep is a symptom, not the main issue. Your doctor can run basic tests to check for common culprits like the following: • Thyroid dysfunction (both hyper- and hypothyroidism can wreak havoc on sleep) • Iron or B12 deficiency • Blood sugar issues • Sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome • Side effects from medications you’re already taking And while it’s rare, there are also more serious (though uncommon) conditions that might present with insomnia or disrupted sleep. It’s better to rule those out early and rest easy knowing you’re on solid footing.

Think of this step like checking the mezuzah when something feels off at home. It doesn’t mean the mezuzah is always the problem—but it’s a foundational place to start.

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Here’s where many people feel lost.

They’ve been told “everything looks fine,” but they’re still not sleeping. At this point, they’re either offered sleeping pills—or they’re sent on their way.

This is where a good sleep coach comes in. My job isn’t to replace your doctor. It’s to partner with you—and if needed, your medical team—to help you figure out what’s really going on beneath the surface.

And this is also where you get to do some exploring.

There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Path

Where Is Your Sleep Issue Coming From?

Every person’s sleep issue is unique.

There’s no blood test that tells you if your insomnia is coming from stress, trauma, poor habits, emotional dysregulation, or spiritual unrest. But if you’re honest with yourself, your body and your heart already know a lot.

Let’s say the doctor gave you a clean bill of health. Now it’s time to look deeper. Here are some possible sources for your sleep issue:

So ask yourself the following: • Do I want to fix this naturally or am I okay relying on medication to cover it up?

• Stress and anxiety: This is probably the number one cause I see in my practice. Your body may be tired, but your brain doesn’t know how to let go.

• Do I believe in working with holistic practitioners or do I feel more comfortable with conventional medicine?

• Snoring or apnea: Just because you don’t wake up gasping doesn’t mean you’re not struggling with disrupted breathing. This can cause frequent micro-awakenings throughout the night that destroy sleep quality.

• Do I want a cure—or just a temporary fix?

• Biochemical imbalances: Low serotonin, adrenal fatigue, or gut issues can all affect your body’s ability to shut down for the night.

These are personal questions. No one can answer them for you. But how you answer them will shape the path you take.

Each of these issues requires a different approach. That’s why sleep can’t be fixed by just one method or one specialist. You need a team—or at least the right person—to guide you to your personal solution.

• Behavioral habits: Staying up late, scrolling on your phone in bed, drinking coffee too late in the day, or lacking a consistent bedtime routine.

• Addiction patterns: Screens, social media, sugar, or even addictive thought patterns that keep your mind spinning at night.

What About a Sleep Study?

In Conclusion

Sometimes a doctor might recommend a sleep study, especially if there’s concern for apnea or another sleep disorder. Sleep studies can be helpful for identifying physical issues, for example:

• Narcolepsy

Sleep is a sacred gift. Chazal teach us that sleep is 1/60th of death—but it’s also a daily renewal, a taste of the World to Come. If your sleep is off, don’t ignore it.

Start by seeing your doctor and ruling out the basics. And from there, take ownership of your journey.

But let me be honest: if you can’t fall asleep in your own bed, you’re probably not going to sleep in a strange room with wires glued to your head. And if you already know you’re not sleeping well, you don’t need a $2,000 study to tell you that you have insomnia.

Whether you choose natural methods, traditional medicine, or a mix of both, the key is to listen to your body, explore your options, and find a path that feels right for you. You don’t have to suffer. You can heal.

Sleep studies have their place—but they’re not the end-all solution. Most sleep doctors focus on diagnostic tools and prescribing medication. They don’t typically help you retrain your body and mind to sleep naturally.

And when you do—when you finally get that peaceful, uninterrupted night of rest—you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

• Sleep apnea • Periodic limb movement disorder

Doron Lazarus is a former insomniac turned integrative sleep coach and the founder of the Sleep Coach Academy. He combines his background in psychobiology with tailor-made sleep coaching, hypnotherapy, and functional nutrition to help clients around the world sleep better for life. He can be reached for a free sleep consultation online at sleepcoachacademy.org or by phone/text to 347.201.0384, WhatsApp at 574.406.3008, or email doron@sleepcoachacademy.org.

WELLSPRING / ADAR 5785

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MORE OR LESS

by Sheindy Unger, CDC

More or Less:

DAIRY A Loaded Question

If you had asked any child thirty years ago whether milk is healthy, you’d have got a resounding yes. Everyone knew they had to drink milk to grow strong bones and teeth. Mothers made drinking a cup of milk in the morning mandatory before leaving the house. School lunch inspections meant that every child had a full cup of milk at their place. Today, however, we are questioning these old habits. Is dairy indeed healthy? Or the better question: “Is dairy healthy in 2025?”

As Clear as a Glass of Milk…

Food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances have increased in recent times, with dairy being the among the most common.

Dairy is the easiest way to get calcium, vitamin D, and protein, but too many are suffering from side effects. This leaves us wondering what has happened to our milk over the years. Why is over half of the world’s population experiencing trouble with dairy digestion?

Chemical Changes Since the late 20th century, the milk we buy is no longer raw and natural. Our milk is pasteurized and homogenized. This process extends shelf life and reduces the risk of infection. At the same time, milk processing increases the allergenicity of cow’s milk.

Processing alters the chemical structure of milk, making it unfamiliar to our immune system. For example, heating the whey proteins found in milk affects the way our system absorbs it. This in turn aggravates allergies and sensitivities. The healthiest dairy products come from cows that are pasture raised rather than raised in barns, and that feed on grass, not grains.

In Summary Milk and dairy products (not including ice cream) are nutrient dense. That’s why the USDA recommends eating dairy food daily. If dairy doesn’t agree with your system, make sure to get your nutrients from nondairy sources, including leafy greens, legumes, and supplements.

Sheindy Unger is a certified nutritionist and founder of Weight Loss by Sheindy. Her debut cookbook, Nourished by Nature, is available in better Judaica stores. Sheindy hosts the Nourished by Nature podcast, available on your favorite listening app. She is also a popular speaker on the Akeres Habayis hotline and can be contacted via email: sheindelunger@gmail.com or WhatsApp 646.498.6696. More info on her program is available on her website: weightlossbysheindy.com and on Instagram @weightlossbysheindy.

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THE VOICE OF MOTHER HEN

HEALTHY FATS FOR HEALTHY BABIES

By Esther Chana Steiner

You’ve probably heard that fat should be limited in your diet during pregnancy, however this advice doesn’t stand up to scientific scrutiny or, in my opinion, to common sense.

Most natural protein foods are also naturally a source of fat— unless they are processed to remove the fat, such as protein powders, skinless chicken, and skim milk. This is by Hashem’s design.

Consider that your baby’s brain, which is approximately 60 percent fat, is being formed from scratch during pregnancy. There are high demands for cholesterol, choline, omega-3 fats, and a variety of fat-soluble nutrients at this time.

The key is to prioritize full-fat animal foods whenever possible, such as chicken with the skin, eggs, beef, and steak, and full-fat dairy products, such as butter, sour cream, hard cheese, and heavy cream.

Try cooking with high-quality oils, such as coconut oil, butter, or chicken fat. You can also en-

joy olives, avocados, nuts and seeds, and any other unprocessed oils derived from these foods.

many of the nutrients and antioxidants found in vegetables are better absorbed by your body when eaten alongside fat.

Don’t be shy about putting butter on your green beans or using full-fat salad dressing.

The only bad fats you should avoid are high in omega-6 fats, including corn oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, canola oil, safflower oil, and cottonseed oil. Also avoid any oils that have been partially hydrogenated, as these are a source of man-made trans fats.

It can be scary to embrace eating fat if you’ve been told to avoid it your entire life. It took me three full years of reading through the research to get the confidence to use butter again and to liberally cook with fat.

No matter how many solid studies have cleared saturated fat of its unfounded “artery clogging” nickname—and there are many!—it can still take some time to feel comfortable eating them.

Ideally, aim to include a source of fat at each meal and snack.

This is especially important when eating vegetables, since

It can be scary to embrace eating fat if you’ve been told to avoid it your entire life.

You’ve probably noticed that I haven’t put a number on the amount of fat to eat a day.

That’s intentional. Haven’t we spent enough of our lives obsessing over fat? The ultimate gram amount or percentage of fat that’s right for you depends on your intake of carbohydrates and protein. Essentially, as long as you meet your minimum protein requirements and do not over-consume carbohydrates, you can trust your body to eat enough fat.

The bottom line: Fats that are from unprocessed real foods, including meat and dairy, are important sources of nutrients during pregnancy. The only fats that should be limited are those high in omega-6 fats, such as vegetable oils and man-made trans fats.

Esther Chana Steiner is the founder of the Mother Hen Method. Her hotline offers education on prenatal nutrition, natural childbirth techniques, and breastfeeding. She can be reached at 845.351.0606, extension 0.

WELLSPRING / SIVAN 5785

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SECOND OPINION

SECOND OPINION Compiled by Mimi Schweid

“For Hashem gives wisdom; from His Mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” (Mishlei 2:6) Hashem is the ultimate Healer. Invariably, human doctors will at times be stumped, leaving us searching for alternate answers.

Sleep-Away Success My 13-year-old daughter Rayna’s application for camp was sent in on time, in February, and she was giddy when her welcome letter arrived in the mail. But as more time passed, whenever her friends discussed their upcoming summer plans, Rayna realized she wasn’t only excited—she was also extremely anxious.

You see, Rayna had a secret that was becoming increasingly embarrassing as she got older.

Back when I filled out her application, I had promised my daughter we would get to the source of her bedwetting. We had already tried the countless

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methods suggested—alarms, tricks, waking her, trips to the bathroom, and diets. It was time for a more invasive approach.

I scheduled an appointment with her pediatrician, and I finally agreed we would try the drugs. But the Desmopressin he prescribed wasn’t the answer we had hoped for. It started with the headaches and other side effects, but what added insult to injury was the ineffectiveness. Rayna was tired all the time, but more than that, she was upset and scared. She had chosen to believe we had the situation in hand and now it

seemed she wouldn’t be able to attend camp after all.

Rayna was tired all the time, but more than that, she was upset and scared.

At my wit’s end, I consulted a holistic healer, and she suggested homeopathic remedies such as eupatorium purp, kreosotum, and a combination called Better Bladder. She also insisted that Rayna start doing exercises to strengthen her core, including the hula hoop (which Rayna loved), sit-ups, pushups, and some others.

The results are slow but steady, but Rayna is so proud of her progress and wouldn’t skip a day of exercise. She's looking forward to showing off her latest skills this summer in camp.

the cranial specialist. After her visit, Yocheved calmed down for the entire day and I was so relieved. “Finally!” I thought.

I was ready to cancel my next appointment, but the following day she was crying again.

That next appointment was with a kinesiologist, and I entered a new world. The kinesiologist believed Yocheved was responding to trauma and she asked me to think back to my pregnancy, and whether I’d had any unusual stress.

Fear From Before From the moment my Yocheved was born, four weeks before Pesach, she did not stop screaming. Our precious little princess was in our arms all night and day, and we were slowly losing our minds.

edy. The doctor said he was leaning toward silent reflux, also digestion-related, although it usually doesn’t present with such intense crying. The doctor prescribed medication for the reflux.

I took her to the pediatrician countless times, but there was no obvious cause for concern; Yocheved was gaining weight beautifully. The doctor explained it was either a case of periodic colic or silent reflux.

According to medical literature, the cause for colic is unknown, although recent studies suggest it might be related to digestive issues. “In any case,” he assured me, “it’s something babies outgrow, eventually.”

“Are you sure it’s a digestive problem?” I asked.

“Eventually” seemed too far away, and I reminded him that my baby had begun screeching immediately after birth—even before I gave her any food! I begged the doctor for a different diagnosis, one with a rem-

“We’re not sure of anything,” the doctor explained. “But the baby is in pain and this is the only remedy there is.”

Two weeks on medication showed no improvement, and we went through Pesach with our screeching Yocheved as unhappy as ever.

On Chol Hamoed, I met with extended family and after congratulating me on the birth of my little girl, there was lots of advice on how I should address her issues. I wrote down all the specialists and their contact numbers and as soon as Yom Tov was over, I started making my appointments. First up was

I wrote down all the specialists and their contact numbers and as soon as Yom Tov was over, I started making my appointments.

I wasn’t put on any medication, and I was discharged after two days of observation. The doctors recommended complete rest, and I stayed in bed for almost two months until I gave birth. The kinesiologist was certain this was the cause, but I didn’t understand how. It was my head, and the baby had been checked and showed no effect from the episode. I have since learned that maternal experiences can heavily impact an unborn child.

The kinesiologist suggested Bach flower remedy star of Bethlehem for trauma, as well as Rescue Calm and some homeopathic remedies.

I called the health-food store and it was promptly delivered.

A few hours later, my baby was relaxed in her bouncer and smiling at me. Her first smile ever.

WELLSPRING / SIVAN 5785

Disclaimer: Always consult with a trusted licensed professional prior to discontinuing any medication.

I didn’t have to think; I remembered it vividly. During my seventh month, I got hit by an electric scooter and was knocked unconscious. Hatzolah had rushed me to the hospital, where the MRI revealed swelling near my brain.

They’d checked on the baby and be’chasdei Hashem, she was fine.

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COMMUNITY 101 In this space, we feature a health-related question or predicament submitted by a Wellspring reader. Fellow readers are invited to participate in the conversation by sharing their tried-and-true advice and suggestions. Join the community!

GALLBLADDER GRIPES A month ago, I was calmly sitting on the couch nursing my baby, when I experienced a tremendously excruciating pain in my back. After an emergency room visit, I learned that I had a gallstone attack. I now live in fear of this becoming a recurring problem. What natural home remedies can I try to stave off future attacks?

Your first defense against a gallstone attack is your food intake. A healthy, balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (at least five portions a day) and lots of whole grains is best. Back when I was a new young mother, I experienced a few gallstone attacks. At the time, I was always rushing between my office job and caring for my family. I did not take good care of myself at the time and ate haphazard meals. Protein bars packed with sugar and ice coffees were my go-to meals.

The gallstone episodes were so very painful for me, and ultimately, that was what pushed me to reevaluate my food intake and try to get on a better path. Working alongside a skilled nutritionist, I learned to put my needs first and nourish my body properly. It wasn’t easy. I had to revamp my entire lifestyle and start to prepare healthful meals for myself. It was well worth the effort, because after three months of proper healthy eating, the attacks disappeared. I am so grateful for that!

I also heard that there is evidence that regularly eating nuts, such as peanuts or cashews, can help reduce your risk of developing gallstones. Even today, long after my last attack, you can find me snacking on some nut mix. They are filling and delicious! Wishing you lots of success and good health.

Tova N., Minneapolis, Minnesota

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My husband suffers from gallstones. When he is in pain from an attack, he can barely move and must crawl on the floor to get across the room.

It isn’t easy to watch! He says that eating smaller, more frequent meals and staying very hydrated are crucial points while dealing with this issue.

Increased fiber intake has helped him as well. I try to help him incorporate lots of fruits and vegetables, beans, and whole grains in his diet. This helps regulate his cholesterol levels and improves his gallbladder function. For gallbladder pain relief, he applies a warm compress to the affected area.

We are still dealing with this issue and I’m looking forward to reading more ideas from other readers.

P. Moses, Teaneck, New Jersey

That is quite painful! It’s good to have every and any tool possible in your arsenal to help ease the attack once it starts. Here are various ideas, choose what works best for you. Peppermint tea is a good idea to drink to soothe the pain of an attack. A magnesium supplement can also be used to help empty out the gallbladder. There is no proven natural method to definitively “break” or dissolve gallstones. While some remedies like apple juice, milk thistle, and dandelion are believed to have properties that may soften or help pass small stones, they are not scientifically proven to dissolve or eliminate gallstones. Many people report that these foods are essential for them pass the stones. Perhaps try one or two and see how it goes. Wishing you the best of health.

P. D., Lakewood, New Jersey

Chana R., Chicago, Illinois

Interestingly enough, our digestive system, which controls the gallbladder’s functioning, is directly affected by our stress levels. Did you ever notice that when you are peaceful and relaxed, your digestion works properly without any hiccups? I see that for myself.

When I’m going through a stressful situation, my digestion goes out of whack. As soon as I leave the stress and find myself peaceful again, my digestive system kicks back in more normally.

Foods high in fat, particularly saturated and trans fats, are known to aggravate the gallbladder. These include fried foods, fatty meats, full-fat dairy, and processed foods. We eat so much processed food; everywhere you turn, there are more unnatural food options. Go basic. Stick with more organic foods in their natural forms. This will ease up your digestive work so that it doesn’t get overloaded and result in attacks.

Gallstone attacks are directly linked to a person’s stress levels and circumstances. It’s the body’s way of speaking, asking for more emotional peace and health. Perhaps you can pinpoint the parts of your life that seem stressful or just too much. See if you can find ways to clear them up. Daven to Hashem to gift you with peace and wholeness.

Journal about your feelings. Let hard emotions pass through you.

Find joy in being you. Be open to what life has to offer. I’m sure this will lead to a positive impact on your gallbladder health and help taper off the attacks. Good luck!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I have to say it like it is: Despite trying countless natural solutions—from detoxes to diets— nothing worked for me. In the end, surgery was the answer, and the relief was immediate. My only regret? Not doing it sooner.

Pnina Schoss, Jackson, New Jersey

Additionally, foods with refined carbohydrates, sugars, and artificial sweeteners can also contribute to gallbladder issues, so sugar is really a no-no.

Try substituting sugar with honey, agave, or other natural options. Be easy on your digestive system. It will only be to your direct benefit.

Tamara O., Monsey, New York

Leba Silver, Spring Valley, New York

Gallstones are common in females, particularly due to their fluctuating hormones. My first gallstone attack occurred during my first pregnancy. Pregnancy is when I am most prone to digestive issues. My doctor told me that female hormones like estrogen and progesterone can directly impact gallbladder emptying, increasing attack risks in women, particularly during pregnancy, so I try very hard to eat well at this time and not to skip any meals. Eating too few calories can interfere with bile production, which is one of the main causes for gallstones to form. I also learned that some individuals may have a genetic vulnerability to gallstone formation. In my case, I did learn about some family members who went through similar experiences. All I can do is try to ease the symptoms and manage them as best as I can.

Please note: These suggestions should not be implemented in place of guidance from a medical practitioner.

Have you been dieting lately? Excessive or rapid weight loss can be a significant cause for gallstones. Perhaps skip the dieting, eat more regularly, and ease up on the exercise. Oftentimes, unnecessary weight loss is hard on the body and causes such flare-ups. If you need to lose weight, aim for a slow and steady approach of 1–2 pounds per week, as opposed to anything more extreme. Avoid fatty or fried foods, as they can exacerbate the symptoms. Consider including lecithin in your diet as some studies suggest that lecithin, found in foods like soybeans and eggs, help prevent cholesterol from solidifying in the gallbladder. I hope these pointers help you find the way out of your situation!

Devorah R., Los Angeles, California

Next Up: I’m dealing with frequent recurring strep in my children. I’ve tried antibiotics and some natural supplements as well, all with no success. If anyone has had a successful experience with this issue, I’d love to hear about it.

Want to share what worked for you with a fellow Wellspring Community member? Send your response to info@wellspringmagazine.com.

WELLSPRING / SIVAN 5785

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FITNESS

UP IN ARMS

By Chaya Tziry Retter, RDN, BS, CPT Another visit to our studio and we’re ready to switch things up. We’ve worked on our core and legs and we’re ready to work on our arms. Building arm strength isn’t just good for cardio and aerobic purposes, although with these moves, we’re getting those benefits as well. Building arm strength helps with what we call “functional fitness”—the benefit of improving our day-to-day lives and functionality with increased endurance and strength. This will help in the long run as you schlep heavy groceries, spend hours ironing, and even when you’re busy with chopping, slicing, and peeling in the kitchen.

Let’s get going!

Half Jacks Legs jump open and closed like a regular jumping jack, but the arms stop halfway up—not passing shoulder height. The arms are not outstretched fully; you’re making an L-shape by bending the elbows at a 90-degree angle and keeping them bent as you raise them up, again at shoulder height. Think, chicken flap arms. By stopping the momentum of the arms naturally continuing upward, you really work the upper arms.

3 reps of 30-second counts

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Punching Bag

Arm-Raised Lunge Steps

Using the power of your imagination, pretend there’s a weighted punching bag hanging from the ceiling right in front of you. Using a hook punch (bent elbow slide punch motion) or a jab (regular punch out from bent elbow to released arm and fist), alternate punching the bag. Visualize it swaying with each punch!

Keeping the arms raised above the head, step back with one leg at a time into back lunges. Challenge yourself to make your fists really heavy; think of 10-pound weights in your arms. The lunges are more of a distraction here than anything else. We just want those arms to stay high and elbows locked.

3 reps of 30-second counts

3 reps of 30-second counts

Rowboat Arm Circles Standing with your legs spread wider than shoulder width apart, stretch the arms out fully at shoulder height and start with making tiny circles forward with your clenched fists, widen the circle with each count of 8. Repeat the sequence with a backward circular motion.

In a slightly squatted position (knees slightly bent, wider than shoulder width apart) stretch the arms forward in front of you as if you’re holding onto an oar of a canoe or rowboat. “Dip” the oar into the water to the deep side of your hip and make an “8” with your arms or an infinity sign. The key is to drop deep and low, and then bring it up high as you curve upward.

2 reps of 30-second counts in each direction

3 reps of 30-second counts

If that wasn’t intense, I don’t know what is! Give yourself a high five and then let those arms rest. See you next time!

Chaya Tziry Retter, RDN, BS, CPT, is a Monsey-based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and ACE Certified Personal Trainer. In addition to her private practice, she recently launched “RESET Nutrition: The Workshop Series” to explore popular and often confusing topics in nutrition. She also developed a nutrition curriculum that she teaches in high schools. To get in touch and to find out about upcoming virtual workshops, reach out at 845.540.4487 or resetbyctretter@gmail.com.

WELLSPRING / SIVAN 5785

45

CUP OF TEA

Marla Rottenstreich is full of energy— you can practically feel it through the phone. Aside from being the COO of One Israel Fund, which runs over 200 unique projects annually, dedicated to supporting Yehudah and Shomron, she is the founder and CEO of MindBody20, an easy, accessible, and fun program that gives members a variety of virtual fitness opportunities that meet the needs of busy women (and men) everywhere and at all fitness levels.

Growing up, Marla never imagined herself in either of these roles. As the middle child of secular Jewish wellto-do parents, and a sixth-generation 46

WELLSPRING / JUNE 2025

American Jew, she attended public school in Bridgewater, New Jersey, in a wealthy community of mostly nonJews. In fact, out of her graduating class of 250, Marla was one of only four Jewish students.

Although there was always an emphasis in her family on marrying in the faith, there was little else in terms of Jewish identity. Marla knew she was Jewish but it didn’t mean much to her.

Then, when she and her siblings were still young, her father left the family.

Marla did a lot of thinking about why people do what they do and began searching for answers in every place she could access. Once she entered

college, Marla began exploring even further. She checked out different religions, trying to see what made sense and felt right. She became a professional dancer and traveled the world, going from state to state and country to country wherever she had a job. In every place she landed, Marla searched for answers.

“I was every mother’s nightmare,” Marla conceded. “In five years, I was in and out of three different colleges. I was running around the world, searching and searching and not finding what I yearned for. I switched majors, signed up, and dropped out. My mother was praying for me to settle down.

Cup of Tea with Marla (Shulamis Miriam) Rottenstreich AGE: 46 LOCATION: Edison, New Jersey FAMILY: Husband, 3 children OCCUPATION: COO of One Israel Fund, Founder of MindBody20 PASSION: Inspiring people to take better care of themselves in mind and body

SHE WISHES PEOPLE WOULD KNOW: “You can harness the power of your female individuality in mind, body, and soul without compromising your place in the klal.”

By Devorah Levitz

“But I couldn’t. I’m a free spirit, very existential, and a deep thinker. I wanted to understand the world around me.

I didn’t want to just live a cozy American life chasing money.”

Ultimately, Marla switched majors eight times. She took religious studies and earned an undergrad degree in Jewish studies. At one point, she enrolled in Native American studies and delved into their insular life. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Marla tells me. “Something about the closeness and deep traditions they held onto spoke to me, but I did not yet realize that I needed to find those attributes within my own religion.”

After starting in physical therapy school, trying to get a major in philosophy, and switching schools and tracks more times than her mother thought she could handle, Marla finally finished school with an undergrad in Jewish studies and marketing and a master’s degree in nonprofit management.

Somewhere along the way, while out in India, Marla ran into a Lubavitcher chassid. “You’re not supposed to be here,” he told her. Marla didn’t know what he meant. But being the true free spirit she is, she listened to what he had to say. Deep down, her Jewish soul recognized authenticity, and it perked up.

This man seemed to know something

about what life was really all about.

Marla was thirsty, and he knew where to find water.

The anonymous Lubavitcher gave her the name of a school and instructed Marla to go there to find her truth.

Off she flew to Israel to try to find the answers to life. If Marla’s mother was disturbed when her daughter went off to dance in India, she was frantic when Marla hopped over to Israel to pick up religion. “My mother called me and begged me to come back to Rutgers,” Marla recalls. “She was anxious for me to finish college and settle down. And she was petrified that I was getting sucked into some crazy cult over in Is-

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CUP OF TEA

rael.

“I came back to New Jersey figuring I’d stay immersed in Jewish life while at Rutgers.

But it didn’t quite pan out that way. Campus life is distracting; I wasn’t used to the rules and habits of Jewish life, and things began to fall away.

“I became involved in all types of advocacy. I was part of student organizations—a loud voice, running things. At one point, I gave a presentation at an environmental conference.

After my talk, I went over to the refreshments table to grab a cup of coffee. At that stage of my life, I was dressed like one of those people you’d avoid on the train.

I was a wild woman with dreadlocks down to my knees, and piercings all over.

“A rabbinic-looking fellow walked over to get a cup as well and told me he really enjoyed my session. We started talking and he told me he was a religious Jew and an organ-

ic farmer in Vermont. He was surprised when I shared that I was Jewish, too, and that I’d even spent some time learning in Israel.”

Marla shared with him how she’d tried the Jewish thing, but it had too many rules, and she couldn’t keep it up. A typical Lubavitcher, the rabbi-farmer was not fazed. “I get it,” he assured her. “Why don’t you come up to my farm and spend Shabbos there? It’s Vermont—it’s relaxing, and my family is great.”

Marla took him up on his offer and in a short time, he and his family became her mentors. She rediscovered her Judaism slowly and organically. Years later, he and his wife walked her down to the chuppah. “They taught me that you can be interested in weird things and still be a Torah Jew,” Marla explains. “They showed me the life and vibrancy in Yiddishkeit. Once they lit that flame, they kept feeding it and I couldn’t get away.

I was dressed like one of those people you’d avoid on the train, with dreadlocks down to my knees, and piercings all over.

“People land on a religious lifestyle either out of inspiration or desperation,” Marla explains.

“For me, becoming an Orthodox Jew was both. I desperately wanted to know something bigger than me and I was deeply inspired by Torah.”

Marla knew she was going to go all the way and reclaim the full gamut of her birthright— Torah, mitzvos, kashrus, Shabbos, and tzniyus. But what about her passions? Before she found Judaism, she had been a professional dancer in major troupes. “I was the only white girl in a hip-hop conservatory in Manhattan,” she tells me plainly. “But now it was, ‘hello frum, bye-bye dance career.’ It was very painful.”

Still searching, she became a doula and collected 18 licenses in alternative healing and fitness. Movement was always her medicine and self-expression and she needed to find a way to keep that in her life. She looked around the frum world and saw many women who were tired, self-loathing, overworked, and underpaid, and wondered what she could do to make a difference.

Then, at an event, she met a woman who learned that she was a dancer. The woman asked Marla to teach her daughter hiphop. “I was flabbergasted,” Marla admits. “The movements, the music—none of it was kosher. I didn’t know what to do.

“But then I had an epiphany.

I recognized that Hashem gave me these talents and interests to use. I became a dance teacher in the local Bais Yaakov school.

I took my education in marketing, dance, yoga, PT, movement therapy, and health and packaged them together to create Mekor Fitness LLC, a Central New Jersey fitness and wellness

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company for women.”

The dance studio took off. Marla was so grateful that Hashem had led her to such a wonderful outlet. She began to fuse fitness with dance and alternative healing. She got into stress management and helped many women.

Along the way, Marla always made sure to work with rabbanim. She wanted everything to come through a kosher lens.

Then came COVID. Of course, the studio had to close. Marla missed the women and the exercise, and she knew that many of them missed it too. In an effort to inspire her clients to sustain their fitness regimen during a crazy time, Marla decided to pivot to recorded programming. She developed MindBody20 and her business evolved to respond to the busy lives of women everywhere.

Marla was happy with her decision to add religion to her life, but her family was decidedly not. They said she had joined a cult and would purposely serve nonkosher food when she visited. It was immensely difficult, but with the help of Hashem and her friends, Marla pulled through.

When Marla decided it was time to start her own home, she relied on friends and mentors to set her up. At first, she kept being matched with baalei teshuvah. “I have nothing against baalei teshuvah,” she shares. “Obviously, I’m a baalas teshuvah myself! But I wanted a spouse who had real foundations in Torah and Jewish life. I knew I was missing pieces and I wanted my children to have at least one parent to rely on. I wanted it for myself as well.”

Finally, Marla met her husband through a friend. Frum from birth, he was from Brooklyn, a mega center of Orthodoxy, and

he had gone to a yeshiva. They began dating. Marla’s family was aghast. His family was confused. Nobody wanted them to marry except themselves. Finally, the Lubavitcher organic farmer and his wife walked her down the aisle.

es of them marrying Jewish are so much higher than if they’d be in public school like I was. I got lucky; too many Jewish kids don’t hold on, and they get lost to our nation. It only takes one generation of intermarriage for a family to disappear.”

“Being a BT is hard.” Marla declares. “We come from a cool world, go through a lot of hard work, land up frum, and we’re weirdos. We work really hard to get to where we are, and yet we’re not always fully accepted. It can hurt. Sometimes we make mistakes. But doesn’t everybody?

Marla’s passion for the Jewish nation comes through strongly.

With her degree in marketing and Jewish studies, she knew she wanted to work for the Jewish people. Today, she is the chief operating officer of One Israel Fund, which was founded in 1994 to promote and ensure the safety and wellbeing of the over 500,000 residents of Yehudah and Shomron—our Biblical heartland. Their work includes medical projects such as ambulances, life-saving kits, and defibrillators; security projects including thermal drones, security and surveillance systems, search and rescue teams, and PTSD treatment; community projects like hospitality centers, mikvaos, shuls, orchard and farm rebuilding, financial assistance, alternative high schools; a slew of education projects;

“It’s hard to go against your family. It can be lonely and excruciatingly painful. But people like me—we have a calling in our soul that we just can’t ignore.

“My whole family was atheist when I was growing up. But after watching my transformation, my brother became frum and eventually met his wife through me. My sister isn’t religious, but she sends her kids to a Jewish school. The chanc-

“Being a BT is hard.”

Marla declares.

“We come from a cool world, go through a lot of hard work, land up frum, and we’re weirdos."

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CUP OF TEA

and recreation projects such as libraries, playgrounds, and fitness programs.

Marla’s children share her passion for Israel and the Jewish people. Her oldest daughter is studying psychology, planning to work in the Jewish community helping those who are vulnerable and in pain. Her second daughter, a born justice seeker, was in southern Israel on October 7th. Shaken, she left school and joined the IDF. Currently, she is serving in a Modern Orthodox combat unit. She’s a slender frum girl from New Jersey, fighting on the front lines.

I stop Marla at this point in our interview. “Marla,” I tell her. “I don’t understand how you can tell me about your daughter in a voice filled with pride and joy without any trace of fear!”

“I can’t help it,” Marla explains with a laugh. “Her name is Emunah!”

Marla makes it seem so simple, but I can’t imagine what it must be like for her, knowing her daughter is on the front lines fighting terrorists. Marla reassures me that she truly is proud of her daughter and not afraid.

“My husband’s father fought in Israel in all the major wars,” she shares. “Emunah is continuing his legacy. She’s serving Am Yisrael in her own way.

“When I see the gifts Hashem sends her, I know she is doing what she needs to do. For example, on Pesach, I run a hotel program and I’m super busy, so Emunah decided to stay in Israel. I was worried about her. Not because of the war, but because I was concerned what kind of Yom Tov she’d have all alone across the world.

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“On Chol Hamoed, a family from Boro Park saw my daughter at a bus stop, started shmoozing with her, and before she knew what was happening, they invited her to join them for the second days at the expensive hotel program where they were enrolled.

“When you really want to serve Hashem and His people, you find what you’re good at and you package it,” Marla asserts.

“I feel like my life mission is to empower Jewish women to find their outlet through movement, breathwork, and mindfulness and I am fortunate that Hashem guided me to discover so many ways to share this passion.

“My son is in a yeshiva in Teaneck,” she concludes. “He’s also on his own journey, learning and growing and becoming his best self.”

Marla is incredibly proud of her children, and it shows. She supports them fully, just like she supports Israel and Jewish women. Completely nonjudgmental, Marla is well-poised for the many community-oriented projects she takes on. She is constantly seeking new ways to support more women. She goes to events for organizations like HASC and Chai Lifeline. She visits incarcerated women in prisons and psych wards. She offers free classes to women whose children or husbands have been fighting on the front lines in Israel.

“When you really want to serve Hashem and His people, you find what you’re good at and you package it."

“As Jews, we are beyond domem, simple matter; we are beyond tzome’ach, the world of plants; we are beyond chai, living creatures; and we are beyond medaber, other humans.

We have strengths, talents, and missions that we need to focus on to fulfill our holy mission in this world. We need to constantly move and grow: physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

“When a person stretches themselves in one area, the other areas are poised for growth as well. I bring the dance and exercise to women, and it is up to them to create the spiritual changes that the movement can engender.”

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51

MEDICAL SAGA

HIDDEN IN PLAIN BITE A PERSISTENT ACHE, A MOTHER’S INSTINCT, AND A MEDICAL MYSTERY UNRAVELED As told to Matty Steinberg

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M

My parents’ Lag B’Omer barbecue had become a beloved family tradition, faithfully attended by all my siblings and their kids. Having recently moved two hours away from our hometown, my children especially looked forward to it; they missed their cousins terribly, and this was their chance to reconnect.

The crowd was big, the energy lively, and the kids sat at their own tables, separate from the adults. I served my children but didn’t watch them closely as they ate—the strains of music were in the air and everyone was bustling about.

That’s when five-year-old Shimi came running over, clutching his right ear, his face scrunched in pain. He hadn’t had a cold or even the sniffles recently—this came out of nowhere. I felt his forehead (the mother’s thermometer), but it was cool. I tried to cheer him up and send him back to play with his cousins, but he insisted: “My ear really hurts.” He spent the rest of the afternoon whimpering, with his head on my lap.

As the sun began setting, we decided to say our goodbyes even before anyone else was thinking of leaving. I felt bad to leave the festive event, but my son was evidently not feeling well and I knew we needed to get him checked.

By the time we arrived back in town, it was well past nine o’clock. His regular pediatrician’s office had closed for

the night, and I didn’t think I should be waiting until morning. So, we headed straight to the local urgent care.

textbook-perfect.

“If he’s still complaining after Shabbos,” the doctor advised, “follow up with an ENT on Sunday or Monday.”

The doctor confirmed what I’d already suspected: no fever.

But the puzzling part was the ear exam—there was nothing wrong. No fluid, no bulging eardrum, no obvious signs of infection. I was confused. Shimi rarely complained and now he was insisting that his ear hurt.

The doctor didn’t find any of it alarming, though, and was not concerned.

All Shabbos long, Shimi continued to mention his ear. Before the recommended time had passed, he was already asking for another dose of his “medicine.” I switched between Tylenol and Motrin, though I wasn’t even sure what we were treating at this point.

Sunday morning, we made the early trek to the city for a proper ENT exam. Once again, we left with an all-clear. It should have been reassuring, but instead, it left us feeling more frustrated than ever. Our son was in pain—serious pain—and here we were, “treating” a symptom, but not addressing the cause.

As he saw it, it was late and the kid was likely just tired. “Give him some ibuprofen for the pain, and if it doesn’t improve by morning, see an ENT in two days,” he advised.

On Friday morning, Lag B’Omer, Shimi woke up again complaining that his ear still hurt. Despite being reassured that there was no infection and that he wasn’t contagious, I decided to call the pediatrician just to double-check. He had a full day of school ahead and didn’t want to miss it.

The doctor advised us to bring him in after cheder, just to confirm there was no ear infection.

We did as he suggested, and the visit felt very similar to the night before.

Shimi, still in pain, began crying once more; he evidently wasn’t feeling any better. But this doctor also repeated what we’d already heard. Shimi’s ear canal looked perfectly normal— no signs of infection, no swelling, no fluid. The ear exam was

On the one hand, I felt we were missing something. On the other, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was overthinking it. After all, could I, an amateur, know more than all these specialists?

If they were comfortable with masking the pain with ibuprofen, who was I to argue?

I switched between Tylenol and Motrin, though I wasn’t even sure what we were treating.

Two more days passed, and Shimi’s pain wasn’t abating. He had started eating and drinking less, and on Tuesday, he woke up with a low-grade fever. He had already skipped cheder on Monday, but now, with the latest developments, I felt the fever legitimized his complaints.

We went back to the pediatrician, who was at a complete loss. After consulting with another doctor in the office, he

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MEDICAL SAGA

mastoid air cells, and a CT scan can help identify conditions like mastoiditis, which is an infection, or cholesteatomas, which would be abnormal skin growths in the ear.

I said Tehillim while my son was being scanned. I davened that whatever they found wouldn’t be serious and that it would be easily treatable. When the doctor came in with the results, I braced myself for what was coming. And that’s when I encountered a surprising revelation: it is possible to be deeply disappointed with good news.

“The CT scan was clean,” the doctor said, his tone matter of fact. “There’s nothing unusual in his ear or mastoid area. Everything is in working order, exactly as it should be.”

still didn’t have answers. But at least he acknowledged how serious this was becoming. “We can’t ignore these symptoms,” he said. “I suggest heading to the emergency room. They’ll run some scans to figure out what’s really going on.”

The doctor’s insistence felt like both a relief and a worry. We weren’t imagining it. There was definitely something wrong, and it was time to figure out what.

Tuesday evening found us at a crowded ER. Because there were no signs of obvious trauma or life-threatening emergency, our wait was long. Finally, they got us into our own

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I recognized that I should have been relieved, even happy. After all, a clear scan meant no infection, no growth, nothing serious. But instead, I felt an unexpected surge of disappointment—and then a wave of guilt for feeling that way. What kind of mother was I, to feel frustrated with good news?

little “room,” and we were able to once again relay our unresolved saga.

In the midst of the chaos, there was something oddly reassuring about seeing so many doctors called to examine him.

They didn’t have all the answers yet, but at least they were taking us seriously. Different specialists were consulted, each adding their thoughts, but no one could quite piece the puzzle together. After much discussion, the doctors recommended a CT scan without contrast of the mastoid area—the region of the temporal bone located behind and below the ear. This part of the skull contains a network of air-filled cavities called

But in truth, it wasn’t good news at all. I hadn’t been asking for something wrong, but something had to be the cause of his pain. A clear scan didn’t solve anything. It didn’t explain why my son had been suffering for days. I didn’t feel any closer to an answer, and that felt worse than not hearing anything at all.

What kind of mother was I, to feel frustrated with good news?

We had a few more doctors come into our curtained-off area, but in the end, they all said the same thing: nothing was really wrong. Even though my son was still running a fever of 101, still clearly unhappy and uncomfortable, they reas-

sured me that it was probably just something that would pass.

was my duty, as his mother, to protect him.

“Follow up with your pediatrician in a day or so if the pain doesn’t lessen,” the attending doctor advised, as if this wasn’t the fourth time we’d heard this.

“Of course, if it gets any worse, come back here immediately.”

Hashem was clearly guiding my steps, because that Thursday, there was a different doctor on call—and her approach was entirely different.

I felt like I was stuck on repeat.

We knew the drill. We drove back home as Wednesday morning’s dawn was breaking.

The city was still quiet as we left, and in the car, I tried to focus on the soothing a cappella of Joey Newcomb’s “Thank You Hashem” that filled the space.

I tried to connect to those words. We had just received an all-clear. There was nothing obviously or seriously wrong with my son. It seemed like something the doctors expected would pass. Ultimately, it was up to me to trust Hashem, thank Him for all that had been, and all that would be, and just… relax.

We arrived home, and I got the other kids off to school. Then I gave Shimi his next dose of ibuprofen, tucked him in—and, after all the stress, tucked myself into bed as well.

Another day passed in much the same way. It wasn’t better, but it wasn’t much worse either.

Now, though, Shimi not only held his ear when complaining about the pain—he also pointed to the right side of his face. I’d had enough. I wasn’t going into Shabbos with my son feverish and in pain, with no clear explanation.

Thursday morning, I packed Shimi’s things and headed back to the emergency room. We weren’t going to leave without an answer. I’m not sure where I found the gumption, but I felt it

She began with the ear exam, and once again, everything appeared normal. But when she looked into his throat, she noticed swelling on the right side of his tonsil. She also noted tenderness on the right side of his neck.

She ordered a contrast scan of the entire area, not just the mastoid, but all the way down his neck. She also requested a battery of blood tests, thinking the answer might show up somewhere.

The culprit was revealed in the contrast ultrasound. The doctors found a two-centimeter metal wire lodged into the peritonsillar tissue—that’s the area right next to the tonsil. An abscess was forming around it.

A peritonsillar abscess, also known as quinsy, is a pus-filled pocket that forms near one of the tonsils, usually as a complication of tonsillitis. It’s very rare for this condition to be caused by a foreign object. But clearly, Shimi’s case was anything but ordinary.

When reviewing his history, we were finally able to pinpoint the root of the issue.

At the Lag B’Omer barbecue, Shimi had asked for a burger and a bun, just like all his cousins. The burger had been grilled on my parents’ massive Weber grill, where an uncommon—and therefore often overlooked—danger presented itself. In between rounds of grilling, my brother-in-law had used a fine-quality metal grill

Hashem was clearly guiding my steps, because that Thursday, there was a different doctor on call.

brush to clean the grates.

The main danger of using metal grill brushes is that the wire bristles can break off and end up in the food, which can lead to serious injuries. As the doctor explained, such scenarios are rare. In her twenty years of experience in the medical field—half of which she’d spent overseeing emergency care— she had never encountered this particular issue. However, there are documented cases of the sharp bristles causing serious internal damage, including perforations in the mouth, throat, esophagus, or even the bowels.

In Shimi’s case, a thin metal wire had apparently stayed behind on the grates and became lodged in the burger. When he bit into the sandwich, it made its way into his throat. The pain in his ear occurred because the eustachian tube—the canal that drains fluid from the ear into the back of the throat—runs right alongside where the metal lodged. It’s likely that the wire made contact with a nerve, causing the pain he was feeling.

The surgery took place that Thursday night. The ENT surgeon did an exceptional job removing the metal wire and draining the abscess. Shimi was put on antibiotics to clear up any remaining infection. We were discharged before Shabbos, and by then, our onceagain happy son was back to his old self. Come Sunday, he was back in cheder, completely free of any issues, baruch Hashem.

While he still avoids burgers for now, I suspect he’ll be back at them soon enough. In the meantime, we’re on the lookout for a safer alternative for cleaning our grill. Any recommendations?

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GUT REACTION

By Tamar Feldman, RDN, CDE

CLEARING THE FOG ON HASHIMOTO’S HAZE ism for the specific purpose of how to help treat it and, more importantly, how to prevent further progression to other autoimmune diseases.

One of the most prescribed medications I encounter in daily practice is levothyroxine, better known by its brand name Synthroid. In a typical week, up to 25 percent of my female client load have at some point had a diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

Of those, 90 percent are classified as Hashimoto’s, where the hypothyroidism is caused by an autoimmune attack on the thyroid gland, with elevated anti-thyroid antibodies present in bloodwork.

What amazes me is that when asked, most of these same clients have absolutely no idea if their hypothyroidism is autoimmune Hashimoto’s or not, clearly never having been educated on this end by their doctors. The prevailing attitude in the medical establishment is that it makes no difference, with the treatment being the

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same regardless: synthetic thyroid hormone replacement with levothyroxine.

Even more fascinating to me is why the mainstream medical establishment is not asking “Why?” What is going on in our lifestyle/diet/environment that is triggering this collective epidemic-level attack on the thyroid glands of so many? And what if Hashimoto’s indicates a risk for other potential autoimmune processes in the future?

Sending patients away with a script for replacement thyroid hormone seems to me to be a very limited and superficial way to address this issue.

With my curiosity piqued on the above subject years ago, I became interested in the functional medicine perspective to Hashimoto’s. This seeks to address the “why” of hypothyroid-

When her dosage needed to be decreased, she felt anxious and irritable, and when it needed to be increased, she was exhausted and depressed.

“I’m on levothyroxine, 75 mg/ day, and I still feel exhausted, constipated and bloated, and slightly down.” Chani was one year post-diagnosis of Hashimoto’s, and although her doctors were telling her she was stable, she felt nothing of the sort. She recalled that in the first few months on medication when her dosage needed to be decreased, she felt anxious and irritable, and when it needed to be increased, she was exhausted and depressed. She still experienced such mood swings on a mild level, was having a hard time losing the ten pounds she had put on over the last few years, and felt simply “off.”

“I’m also very concerned about developing other autoimmune diseases, as my mother suffers from rheumatoid arthritis,” she said. “Just tell me what to do, and I’m on board!”

As per the functional medicine model, I sent Chani back for a more thorough thyroid panel.

This included levels of antibodies to the thyroid gland, indicative of how severe the attack on her thyroid was, as well as other more specific markers than the typical TSH and T4 that are monitored in standard follow-up care. Unsurprisingly, she had slightly lower than

ideal levels of active thyroid hormone, known as free T3, and slightly high levels of the “bad” reverse T3—the chemical that puts the thyroid system and its active T3 on brakes.

As I explained to Chani, when the body attacks the thyroid gland, it is in a state of mild inflammation, usually started by a leaky gut. Environmental chemicals, certain infections, gluten, and stress can all be contributing factors to start this process. Once it is underway, leaving it unaddressed and simply replacing the missing thyroid hormone means that this process can progress to attacking other parts of the body, which is why autoimmune diseases are often diagnosed in multiples.

Many individuals with hypothyroidism are unable to convert T4 over to T3 due to this inflamed state, as well as due to deficiencies in certain micronutrients, specifically selenium and B vitamins. Without T3, the active thyroid hormone, they are missing thyroid hormone at the cellular level, and for all intents and purposes, they remain in a hypothyroid state.

Chani was highly motivated to make changes in her diet and lifestyle if it meant feeling better, improving her mood, and losing weight. We started with her gut, the root of it all, by removing high amounts of pesticides, plastic contaminants, gluten, and dairy containing A1 protein from her diet. We added in L-Glutamine supplement, bone broth, fermented foods, and probiotics to aid with closing up the leaky gut lining, the prerequisite for almost all autoimmune diseases.

She switched to a more plant-based anti-inflammatory diet, using healthier added oils and no emulsifiers or preservatives in whichever packaged food she ate. Very importantly, because excess iodine can further exac-

Fluoride in water and toothpaste is strongly linked to Hashimoto’s, so Chani installed a reverse osmosis water filter and switched to non-fluoridated toothpaste.

erbate the state of already inflamed iodine within the thyroid gland, we avoided excess dietary iodine, using sea salt rather than iodized salt, and avoiding supplemental iodine.

Fluoride in water and toothpaste is strongly linked to Hashimoto’s, so Chani installed a reverse osmosis water filter and switched to non-fluoridated toothpaste. We cleaned up her skincare and makeup products to remove phthalates, which are known endocrine disruptors. She worked on managing her stress levels as the cortisol stress hormone is a known inflammatory chemical, and she made an attempt to sleep an extra 20–30 minutes nightly. Last, she started supplemental vitamin C, selenium, and glutathione—powerful antioxidants to prevent oxidation of iodine in the thyroid—as well as methylated B vitamins and inositol to assist with T4 to T3 conversion.

The results were astounding. Twelve weeks later, the word she used to describe how she felt was “incredible.”

Constipation was a thing of the past, she had never in her lifetime felt so

much energy, and she had dropped seven pounds. Her mood swings were entirely gone and her antibody levels were down by a significant drop. Not surprisingly, free T3 and reverse T3 were now normal. At the four-month mark, her doctor decreased her Synthroid dosage, then again at the sixmonth mark, until she was finally left on only 25 mg per day, feeling amazing. I made sure to remind her that in addition to how great she felt—and more importantly—she had likely halted the entire autoimmune train-wreck process due to the tremendous changes she’d made in her lifestyle.

Tamar Feldman, RDN, CDE, is a dietitian whose mission is to improve lives by empowering individuals to use nutrition to improve their gut health and hormone balance. She is a recognized expert on IBS/SIBO and has developed the Gut Dietitian training protocols on IBS and IBD for Registered Dietitian education. She writes, lectures, and counsels extensively on IBD, IBS, PCOS/fertility, and thyroid health, and is the founder of www. thegutdietitian.com virtual practice and co-founder of the app Belly.

WELLSPRING / SIVAN 5785

57

Bloomed to Perfection

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Wellbeing

FINANCIAL HEALTH

WELL ASKED—WELL ANSWERED

HAKOL BESEDER

Bikkurim for Your Budget Tie a Ribbon for Every Yom Tov

Teen Troubles Understanding the Spotlight Effect

Planting Perennials Investing in Our Blossoms Futures

HAKOL BESEDER

A Happy and Healthy Haven

Flowers come in all sorts, in the greatest variety of hues, sizes, and life cycles.

There are the wildflowers, which so boisterously pour out over entire fields in vibrant hues. They bloom in glorious color, just because they can. They don’t require anyone’s input or insight; they just instinctively know how to blossom.

Annuals are beautiful too, but the effort involved in planting them just makes you long for their more obedient, easygoing cousins.

While there’s certainly joy in the gardening itself, it can be frustrating to find the joy so short-lived.

It is at those times that we consider the benefits of harvesting perennials. Those resilient blooms are usually well-worth the investment of time and money. Once planted, the blooms require minimal maintenance, while repeatedly charming our gardens year after year.

As you are may have expected, there’s a homemaking analogy here. I’ll address that briefly before moving on because there’s a different angle I want to focus on too.

By Tziri Hershkovitz

At Home The wildflowers are the people who have the skills instinctively—they know what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. With no apparent effort, their home sparkles. And there’s joy there, I’m sure. Perhaps even pride.

Planting Perennials Flowers are beautiful in all their forms, but there’s something authentic about the flowers from our own garden.

We’ve seen the process, we know the toil, we reap the reward—and we can definitively determine that it is worth it.

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The annuals are those who sporadically pick up an idea here or there, without planning for long-term results. Sometimes their newly learned concepts work, but more often they don’t. These homemakers might complain about the effort involved and the fact no matter how much they try, the results are short-lived.

Then there are the perennials; those who consistently make it a point to learn a new rule, slowly implementing each concept and allowing each idea to gestate long enough to become a habit. They sow, they harvest, and finally, they reap with pride.

The trick is to keep growing. And while we’re at it, to keep sowing.

marcated location. Teaching our kids to clear up after themselves is an education that will serve them well in life.

A “perennial” investment in our children is an investment in their future.

But enough about us homemakers. When speaking of tenderly planted blooms, I’d like to turn our attention to our own budding blossoms.

The Five-Petal Approach That Looks Good on Every Little Flower

Babied Buds

Make the bed first thing.

When the child is still little, as soon as they come out of bed, it’s simple enough to straighten their “blankie.” If they get used to the morning starting with a made bed, it quickly becomes the norm.

Similarly, as soon as they are old enough to have negel vasser near their bed, they’re old enough to be responsible for it. (A ten-year-old “in a rush” will not be happy to add something new to their routine.)

I know that comparing child-rearing with gardening borders on cliché—and there’s obvious reasons for that. Our children are delicate, well worth the toil, and each so very unique.

Some kids seem to require no training and instinctively know how to be respectful, helpful, neat, and kind. Others need more guidance in order to get there. Whether they come by their proper behavior by instinct or patient teaching, the gardening is an ongoing job to which the attentive gardener gives much forethought. A “perennial” investment in our children is an investment in their future.

It is worth noting that the younger they are when we plant the seeds, the more ingrained their habits will become. Start early. Everyone benefits.

Keep the shoes in the designated spot. Always. This will enable them to locate their shoes with ease.

Dirty clothes go in the hamper. Worn pajamas in the morning and the dirty laundry in the evening need to find their way to the respective (light/dark) hampers. Similarly, hair accessories, belts, etc., should have their de-

School bags and jackets should never be anywhere but where they belong. Create a hook in the closet for more functional coat hanging for little children and assign an area where school bags should wait.

Done dining? Clear your place-setting. Involving your kids in setting the table is helpful for you and an education for them.

By six years of age, clearing their plates off the table should be expected.

All but the last one can be encouraged from when the kids are still toddlers. Human nature has it that the concepts we are raised with feel “normal” and therefore don’t feel strenuous. “Normal is as normal does,” the saying goes. On the flipside, when these habits are introduced at a later age, as chores, there is bound to be preteen kvetching about the difficulty and “unfairness.” An early introduction is easier for them and for you.

I speak of this frequently, but it warrants reiteration: Children who are given the tools to be productive in their childhood homes gain an indescribable amount of confidence from the responsibility. From self-esteem to maturity to valuable life skills, childhood responsibilities prepare them for a life of success.

Let’s provide our precious blossoms with the optimal opportunity to bloom.

Tziri Hershkovitz is founder of Hakol Beseder and author of the book by the same name. She is passionate in her belief that Hashem designed this beautiful world to be enjoyed. Discover more on the free hotline, 347.772.1188, or visit www.HakolBeseder.org to sign up for the monthly newsletter, purchase the popular book, or register for Tziri’s life-altering workshops. Every woman is more than just a homemaker—and with the right tools and skills, she’ll discover the bliss that awaits.

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61

SEASONAL STUMPERS

By Draizy Israel

r e h s e r F For s r e Flow

Flower Food The packet of flower food is there for a reason. It is a tried-and-true way to keep the blooms fresh longer because when added to the water, it provides essential nutrients and helps counteract the stresses the flowers experience after being cut.

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Cut the Stems

Prune

Blooms remain more vibrant when stems are snipped prior to placing them in water. Garden shears are best, but any sharp knife can handle the task. Trimming stems by an angled 1–2 inches will boost water absorption, and retrimming every few days will help them stay fresh even longer.

To keep bouquets fresh and healthy, remove any leaves below the waterline. This will prevent bacteria and improve appearance. For flowers like roses, gently remove the outer “guard petals” to help them fully open.

Check daily for any dead leaves or petals and remove them to avoid rot.

Water Wisely It’s not only important to get the bouquets hydrated, but to do so wisely. It’s best to have a clean vase filled with room-temperature water mixed well with the right amount of flower food. For lasting freshness, thoroughly clean the vase and refresh the water and flower food every 2–3 days.

Location, Location, Location Where we place our flowers matters. Keep them away from direct sun and heat-producing appliances and avoid drafty areas like open windows and vents. Another surprising no-no: bouquets need to be kept away from fruit. That’s right; ripening fruits release tiny amounts of ethylene gas that will “ripen” flowers too fast, thereby reducing the longevity of the arrangement.

Vodka Adding a few drops of vodka to a vase of flowers stunts growth…in a good way. The spirit’s ability to inhibit ethylene production, a ripening gas that helps plants mature, slows the wilting of the flowers.

Soda

Coins Adding a copper penny is said to do wonders for floral bouquets, with the copper acting as an acidifier that fights the bacteria growth in the arrangement. When tested, blooms with a copper penny opened up nicely—maybe too nicely and too quickly. Although it starts out lovely, by day seven it starts wilting, while other modes allow for the flowers to last until day ten.

Add a quarter cup of soda to a vase full of fresh flowers. The sugar is said to make the blooms last longer and even smell sweeter, too.

On day ten, flowers with soda in their water look as healthy as on day one—with the only difference being the flowers opening up more.

Fridge Ever thought about putting your bouquet in the fridge overnight? Apparently, the low temps help keep the flowers fresher and help slow aging. Evidently floral bouquets like to stay nice and cool. It’s not always feasible, but if the fridge space is available and the extra few days matter, then why not go for it?

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WELL ANSWERED

Well Asked—Well Answered Your Path to Clarity Begins Here

By Vichna Belsky, BS, CLC

Q

I am an 18-year-old Bais Yaakov high school girl. I try to do what’s right. Yes, I have a lot of energy, but I’m not bad. I’m not looking to make trouble. Ask my friends—they will tell you that I’m a great kid. I get along super well with them. I’m not snobby.

I’m not mean. I have fun ideas, and I’m responsible. So why when it comes to adults does it seem like everything I do is wrong?

- Frustrated Teen

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A

Being a teen is h-a-r-d! At 18, you’re an adult in the eyes of the law, you can vote and get a driver’s license and a ten-year passport, but you’re still in school, subject to the rules and whims of the principals, teachers, and staff. At one moment, you feel like the whole world is open to you, and then a moment later, it’s slammed shut in your face. People expect you to act like a responsible adult, and then they go and micromanage everything you do.

Of course it’s frustrating!

Your parents and teachers also struggle with this dynamic. They likely want to give you tools and guidance, and sometimes it seems like they forget just how much you already know and how capable you already are.

There’s this constant tug and pull from all sides, and you’re stuck in the middle, trying to figure out how much you can push without breaking things. Sometimes, for an 18-year-old twelfth grader, it can feel like everything they do is wrong to the adults around them.

In psychology, there is a concept called “confirmation bias.” This is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one’s prior beliefs or values. Everybody does this to some extent in many areas of life. When you get something new, you suddenly notice how many other people have the same model, color, or style. When you like a thing or idea, you notice all the articles saying how wonderful it is.

The problem with confirmation bias is that it skews reality. Things that don’t meet your preexisting ideas fly under the radar and don’t get noticed.

People often feel bad about what others think of them, but if they only realized how little time other people spent thinking about them, they’d probably feel even worse.

Things that don’t match what you are looking for become invisible.

Imagine you are driving along happily and you get a red light. Then you get another one, and another one. It feels like you’re getting all the red lights! But is that accurate? Chances are, you had lots of green lights along the way that you didn’t notice because you sailed right through them.

Something similar is happening with you, your teachers, and their comments. It may seem like they are catching everything you do and telling you that you are wrong, but chances are, they are not commenting on 90 percent of what you do. Earning a 90 percent on a test is fabulous, and 90 percent in life is pretty great, too. Yes, the 10 percent can be annoying. It’s frustrating to get red lights! But there are probably far more green lights than reds.

Be sure to remind yourself that for everything the adults comment on as being “wrong,” there are way more things you are doing right. It would be great if the adults around you verbalized that, but they are responsible for

their own actions, and you are responsible for yours. Remind yourself that you are doing great and that although this comment is a red light that may slow you down, it won’t stop you from continuing your amazing life.

There’s also the issue of the “spotlight effect.” This is when people overestimate how much people notice how they look or act. Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski said that people often feel bad about what others think of them, but if they only realized how little time other people spent thinking about them, they’d probably feel even worse.

It may seem like the adults around you only notice what you do wrong, and think bad things about you all day, but truthfully, they probably forget about their comments and move on to other things while you are only beginning to ruminate. Don’t allow the spotlight effect to ruin your day!

Remind yourself that the spotlight keeps moving. Move along, too, and try not to take their comments too strongly. Listen to those who are trying to help, and ignore the rest.

Keep being great!

A bona fide horse-lover, Vichna Belsky, BS, CLC, is the founder of My Path – Bishvili, which sadly does not involve any live horses at this time.

Happily, it doesn’t involve dead horses either. However, she can talk all day and not get hoarse. In fact, on most days that is what she does. To hear her classes on the Tehillim of Shabbos, dial (641) 715-3800, access code 827793.

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WALLET WELLNESS

Our mental and financial wellbeing are directly intertwined.

In Wallet Wellness, we bring you practical and realistic financial advice and the menuchas hanefesh that comes along with it.

Bikkurim for Your Budget: Tie a Ribbon Around Every Yom Tov

By Baruch Niebloom Leah wiped a streak of cheesecake batter off her toddler’s cheek and glanced at the grocery receipt pinned to the fridge. Shavuos was only days away, and the total—flowers, cream cheese, fancy coffee for her husband’s all-night learning—was much higher than she had expected. “But I use YNAB,” she thought, puzzled. “Why is this still catching me off guard?”

That evening, Leah opened her budget. Sure enough, she had a healthy line called “Yom Tov,” covering every chag from Rosh Hashanah through Simchas Torah, plus occasional Shabbos guests. But the money she’d been squirreling away all year was spread thin; Shavuos had unexpectedly overdrafted this broad category, revealing that general estimates weren’t precise enough.

Listening to a shiur on Parashas Ki Savo, Leah heard the rav describe bikkurim. Farmers in the Beis Hamikdash era—and be’ezras Hashem, very soon again—would tie a ribbon around the first ripening figs to bring them to Yerushalayim with song and gratitude. The ribbon served two purposes: identifying the fruit and ensuring it didn’t get mixed up. Leah realized her budget needed ribbons, too—clear, separate categories for each Yom Tov.

The Bikkurim Mindset 1. Label Before You Spend Bikkurim begins when the fruit is still on the tree. Likewise, the moment you think “Shavuos cheesecake,” open YNAB and create—or fund—that subcategory. Waiting until Iyar is like tying the ribbon after the basket is packed.

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2. Make Categories More Granular Instead of one catch-all bucket, consider four distinct holiday groups: Shalosh Regalim, Purim, Chanukah, and Yamim Noraim. Break them down further if helpful. These extra lines act as visible ribbons, reminding you exactly what the money is for. Go as granular as you can while making sure it’s still being helpful, and not so much work that you’ll give up.

ture. Set monthly funding goals for each Yom Tov category, clearly signaling how much to allocate each month. YNAB will visually track your progress.

3. Protect the Ribbons When unexpected expenses arise, resist the urge to dip into holiday categories. Redirecting this money is akin to harvesting fruit before it’s ready. Trim discretionary spending, such as take-out or impulse buys, first.

3. Track Real Numbers, Not Guesses

4. Share the Vision With Your Family

After each chag, record what you actually spent. Fund next year’s category with that number plus a small cushion. Farmers didn’t merely hope for a good harvest; they measured their first fruits carefully. Initially, you can estimate based on last year’s spending. It’s perfectly fine—and even expected—to adjust these categories as you learn more.

View the simple progress bar for each chag. Your family will see firsthand that beautiful Yom Tov tables don’t simply appear; they’re planned months ahead.

Practical Steps to a Shavuos-Ready Budget 1. Review Last Year’s Receipts Gather supermarket statements, bakery invoices, and decoration costs. Total these expenses and divide by 12.

That figure becomes your monthly amount to allocate to “Shavuos” (within Shalosh Regalim).

Why the Details Matter Broad categories create an illusion of preparedness but often mask financial realities. By Elul, a vague “Yom Tov” fund can sit empty, forcing families onto credit cards or causing unnecessary stress precisely when they crave menuchas hanefesh.

Granular budgeting turns potential surprises into joyful plans and fosters shalom bayis. When couples see clearly designated cheesecake money waiting, pre–Yom Tov conversations shift from “Where will we find the money?” to “Whom can we invite?”

2. Set Goal Targets in YNAB

What If the Harvest Is Thin?

Use YNAB’s goal targets fea-

Experiencing an income dip?

Like the farmer whose crop was modest, simply adjust your spending targets—not your system. A smaller floral arrangement or one cheesecake instead of four still honors the chag and maintains financial serenity.

Bringing Torah into the Balance Sheet Shavuos celebrates that we received the Torah before we fully understood every mitzvah— naaseh ve’nishma. Budgeting mirrors that leap of faith: we allocate our shekalim to holy purposes first, trusting Hashem to help manage the rest.

Consistency, not extravagance, brings true blessing.

Ready to Tie Your Ribbon?

Leah created four new holiday groups in YNAB and logged this year’s Shavuos costs precisely. She set monthly goal targets, and within weeks, the progress bar glowed reassuringly green. By Rosh Chodesh Sivan, her cheesecake pans—and wallet—were ready.

Choose one upcoming chag, open YNAB, and tie your ribbon today. Need guidance on realistic budgeting? frum.finance provides free tools and coaching to help you along the way.

When we honor Hashem with our first produce—clearly labeled and joyfully presented— He blesses our fields and fills our homes with peace.

“Honor Hashem with your wealth, with the first of all your produce.”

—Mishlei 3:9

About the Expert Baruch Niebloom, a Baltimore resident and software engineer at Amazon’s AWS, is the founder of frum.finance, a nonprofit focused on advancing financial literacy in the Orthodox Jewish community. Motivated by a passion for empowering families with the tools they need to achieve financial stability, Baruch launched frum.finance to fill the critical need for accessible, unbiased financial guidance.

Funded entirely by donations, frum.finance offers a range of services designed to meet the unique financial needs of the community. These include personalized one-on-one consultations, educational resources tailored to various life stages, and an online platform where families can connect and learn from one another.

Baruch Niebloom can be reached at baruch@frum.finance or via WhatsApp at 240-424-5219

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MIND AND YOU

We all know the adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. That may be true of dogs, but we should never apply this axiom to ourselves. Decades of compelling research in the field of neuroplasticity have overwhelmingly overturned the mistaken belief that the adult brain is primarily fixed and incapable of significant growth.

Recent studies in neuroplasticity bring us hope and empowerment as they show that the structure and function of our brains are not static after childhood; we have a lifelong capacity to learn, adapt, and even recover from brain injury or the effects of aging. Although there is some natural decline in gray matter volume with aging, studies have demonstrated that engaging in mentally stimulating activities, learning new skills, and even regular physical exercise can lead to an increase in gray matter volume in specific brain regions.

For a long time, it was believed that neurogenesis—the birth of new brain cells—only occurred during development. However, research has now confirmed that new brain cells do form in certain regions of the adult brain, most notably the hippocampus, which involves memory. While the extent of adult neurogenesis is still being actively researched, its existence clearly demonstrates the brain’s ongoing capacity for change and growth.

There are five key ways to promote neuroplasticity in adults: Learning new skills: This challenges the brain and forces it to create new neural pathways.

Cognitive training: Engaging in mentally stimulating activities like puzzles, strategy games, and learning can strengthen neural connections.

Physical activity: Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and releases growth factors that support neuron health and growth.

Mindfulness and meditation: These practices have been shown to alter brain structure and improve connectivity.

Social interaction: Engaging with others can stimulate brain activity and promote neural growth.

Novel experiences: Stepping outside of your routine and trying new things can challenge your brain in beneficial ways.

Wellspring introduces a new game monthly, affording you the opportunity to learn a new skill and engage in mentally stimulating activities for cognitive training. This month, we bring you Kriss Kross. It’s different, it’s new, it’s challenging and fun.

Best of all: it’s good for you!

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Memorable Quote “A puzzle is a problem disguised as fun.”

Kriss Kross

6 Letters

7 Letters

8 Letters

BUG

BORE

ADOPT

CYCLES

FIGMENT

ARTISTRY

COY

ETNA

BAILS

KINDLY

FIRMING

IMMINENT

VIM

YAMS

DEBUT

ORATES

ORGANIC

REALIZES

FLOUR

POORER

PARTIAL

VANISHES

NASAL ROUGE

Answer Key:

Happy playing!

5 Letters

F I S T R Y R M I L S N G A N I C Y L Y C P L B O R E S O R E O U R

Solving a Kriss Kross often involves starting with words that have a unique length or that have letters that appear infrequently in the word list. You might also try placing a word and then seeing if the intersecting words can still fit. It often requires some trial and error and logical deduction.

4 Letters

Y A R T M E S B A T O R V K I N D M E B L U C D O P T Y F L

Tips:

3 Letters

O R A T E S E V A N I S H L M F I G M E N Z I E T N A S E N N P A R T I A O S B U G A L G E

A Kriss Kross puzzle, also known as a Word Fit puzzle, is similar to a crossword, but you are given the grid and the list of words—with no clues or numbered squares! The goal is to fit all the words from the list into the grid.

The words are sorted by length to help you figure out where they might go.

The challenge lies in the fact that there’s only one correct way to place all the words so that they interlock properly.

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rosé all day chateauroubine.com

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Eat Well

75 The Kiddush

By Yossi & Malky Levine

86 Kitchen Cures Burn Balms

88 My Table Broccoli are Blooms

92 Spice It Up Saffron

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Dear Cooks, Not to be cheesy, but with Shavuos coming up, can you guess what’s on my mind? If you said dairy, you are absolutely right! In my family, we wait all year for a few simple but classic recipes that we save for Shavuos, with stove-to-table fresh fettuccine alfredo at the top of the list.

journey, starting from when he was a child. One interesting tidbit he weaves into the tapestry of his upbringing is the incident of his well-cultured father enjoying a dish of the original alfredo pasta at the restaurant of its creator, Alfredo Di Lelio, in Rome.

Fettucini alfredo has more to do with Shavuos than you might think.

These days, when Roy/Yisroel has fettuccine alfredo (I didn’t check with him if it’s on his menu for Shavuos), you can be sure he’s having a kosher version. Roy still seeks out excellence just as his father did, but he is looking in different places.

Where his father found excellence in fine dining and culture, Roy found it in Sinai.

Recently, I finally read Roy S. Neuberger’s first bestseller, From Central Park to Sinai: How I Found My Jewish Soul, after having already read his later books. It was fascinating to peek into the history of secular Jewish life in NYC in the 1900s through the eyes and memory of the author.

Roy Neuberger was raised on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue in an affluent family with no connection to the richness and fullness of a proper Jewish life. In this book, he tells the story of his spiritual

And there you have it—fettuccine alfredo, from Rome to Sinai.

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The Kiddush

For those who prefer dishes made with healthier ingredients, dairy delicacies may make you feel like you’re hitting a wall. Think “Shavuos kiddush,” and a table full of sugar-laden desserts and miniatures comes to mind. No one’s really conjuring up an image of a healthy yogurt bar (although that’s actually not a bad idea!).

In this feature, we show you how using healthy ingredients does not have to compromise the beauty or the taste of your beautiful Shavuos kiddush spread. It’s all about finding the right balance of ingredients so you’ll have your cake and eat it too. Quite literally.

Recipes, styling, and photography by Yossi & Malky Levine

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Light Berry Cheesecake Time for a healthier cheesecake! We’re changing a few ingredients to lighten up this classic dessert for all cheesecake lovers out there. The berry compote topping adds a delicious fruity flavor and enhances the beauty of the cake.

Crust: 1 cup oats 1 cup walnuts, chopped 1 Tbsp coconut oil 1 tsp cinnamon 2 Tbsp maple syrup Cheesecake: 2 cups cream cheese 3 cups Greek yogurt 3 eggs 1¼ cup monk fruit sugar (or equivalent in other sweetener) ⅓ cup flour 1½ tsp vanilla extract ¼ tsp salt Simple Berry Compote: 1½ cups strawberries and blueberries, mixed 3 Tbsp orange juice ½ Tbsp chia seeds or cornstarch, for thickening

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place all crust ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix until combined. Transfer into greased 10-inch springform cake pan.

Place cheesecake ingredients into the bowl of a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Pour over crust.

Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until middle is set.

Remove cheesecake from oven and let cool completely (at least 4 hours) before refrigerating.

For berry compote, bring berries and juice to a simmer in a small saucepan. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in chia seeds to thicken, if desired. Pour over cheesecake before serving.

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StreuselTopped Yogurt Muffins This muffin recipe is super easy and oh so scrumptious! Add these beauties to your Shavuos kiddush spread and watch them disappear.

Muffin: ⅔ cup coconut oil, softened 1 cup monk fruit sugar (or equivalent in other sweetener) 2 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla 2¼ cups white whole wheat flour 1½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda 1¼ cups plain Greek yogurt Streusel: 1 cup coconut flour ½ cup coconut sugar 1 tsp ground cinnamon 4–5 Tbsp coconut oil

Preheat oven to 350°F and line 18 muffin cups.

Using a hand mixer, beat coconut oil and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and beat until just combined. Add vanilla.

Gradually add flour, baking powder, and baking soda, and beat until just combined. Fold in yogurt.

For the streusel, whisk together flour, coconut sugar, and cinnamon. Add coconut oil and mix until crumbly.

Spoon half the batter into prepared muffin tins, sprinkle some streusel topping over it, then fill with more batter.

Top with remaining streusel topping.

Bake 18–20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Optional: Drizzle with melted chocolate for garnish.

Yield: 12 muffins

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Sweet Potato Gnocchi Ricotta Pillows This recipe was inspired by a dish I enjoyed a while ago in a restaurant in Yerushalayim. As soon as I tasted it, I knew I’d recreate it one day.

This is delicious for any occasion, but it can be especially fitting for those who do all-milchig Shavuos seudos.

If you’ve never tried your hand at gnocchi before, don’t worry—the process isn’t hard. It can actually be a really fun project, especially together with family or friends. I used purple sweet potatoes because I was so excited to find them in my local supermarket.

After you’ve made the gnocchi, you can either freeze them to use for later, or boil and use right away.

1 large sweet potato (1½ cups mashed) 1½ cups flour (plus more for dusting) 1 tsp salt 1 egg 8 oz ricotta cheese ¼ tsp salt Cream sauce: 1 onion, sliced ½ tsp salt 1 tsp sugar 1 Tbsp olive oil 3 garlic cloves, minced 6 oz wild mushrooms, sliced 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup water ½ tsp salt Handful of fresh basil leaves

Mix sweet potato with flour, salt, and egg. Gently knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until smooth but not elastic.

Divide the dough into two parts and roll out to ¼-inch-thick rectangles (the width should be approximately 4–5 inches).

Place spoonfuls of ricotta filling toward the right side of the dough, leaving a 1.5-inch space between each spoonful.

Fold over left side of dough and press down around each mound of mixture to seal. Cut dough between each spoonful and tuck ends underneath to create individual pillows. Set aside.

To prepare the sauce, place onion slices, salt, sugar, and olive oil in a skillet and sauté over medium heat for 10 minutes, until onions are golden. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.

Add gnocchi pillows and basil leaves to the sauce, cover the skillet, and cook for 5–7 minutes.

Serve immediately and garnish with pecans.

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Creamy Grape Ambrosia

By Charnie Kohn Total prep time: 10 minutes This light and refreshing dish may just become your new Shabbos staple! It comes together in under ten minutes and is the perfect treat for those long and hot Shabbos afternoons.

3 cups green grapes 3 cups purple grapes 1 cup low-fat yogurt ¼ cup coconut sugar, plus more for topping 2 Tbsp cream cheese ½ tsp vanilla extract 1 15-oz can peaches 1 cup walnuts, crushed, for topping

Wash grapes and set aside. In a mediumsized bowl, combine yogurt, coconut sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla extract.

Drain peaches, reserving two tablespoons of the liquid. Add peaches and reserved liquid to yogurt mixture.

Blend until smooth. Combine with grapes and top with crushed walnuts and some more coconut sugar. Serve cold.

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KITCHEN CURES

K I T CC HU ER NE S Burn Balms

by Gitti Feldinger

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Potato

Cold Water

Aloe Vera

When grated potatoes are placed on a fresh burn, the potatoes will “cook.” This is due to the ability of raw potatoes to draw out heat from the skin.

Additionally, due to their high starch content, the peels and flesh act as a natural balm and moisturizer for burns. And finally, potatoes contain antioxidants that help reduce inflammation on the skin.

Cool running water helps reduce the severity of a burn by dissipating heat, stabilizing blood vessels, and minimizing pain.

It also helps prevent further damage to the skin and can reduce the risk of complications like infection and scarring.

Aloe vera is widely recognized and used for its beneficial properties when applied to burns. The aloe can help reduce pain, inflammation, and redness, while also promoting faster healing and preventing infection.

Coconut Oil

Turmeric

Honey

Calendula

Although coconut oil is not ideal for fresh burns, as it may trap heat and exacerbate the injury, it can help promote healing and reduce the likelihood of scarring. The oil has antimicrobial properties that can create a protective barrier as it moisturizes the dry burn.

And coconut oil’s propensity to stimulate collagen production is essential for tissue repair and prevention of scarring.

Turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Studies suggest curcumin can help reduce inflammation, pain, and accelerate healing in burn wounds. Additionally, curcumin may improve the quality of granulation tissue and promote re-epithelialization (the process of skin cells rebuilding), which is crucial for burn healing.

Honey can be beneficial for burns due to its natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. It can help reduce pain and inflammation, prevent infection, and promote faster healing of minor burns.

Calendula, also known as pot marigold, is a plant with bright yellow or orange flowers that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and is especially respected for its skin-healing properties. Because the plant contains flavonoids and saponins, it may help reduce inflammation and swelling associated with burns.

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In the pages of Wellspring, we share expert advice from some of the community’s most popular and competent dietitians and nutritionists.

In this column, you get to see how they practice what they preach in their own kitchens. Pull up a chair at “My Table” and join the chat.

Did you know that broccoli, cauliflower, and artichokes are technically flower buds harvested before they bloom? These “flowers” are packed with fiber and other nutrients, making them a fantastic addition to your family’s meals.

What are some creative ways to make them family friendly?

Chaya Tziry Retter, RSN, BS, CPT I find most kids love broccoli without it being doctored up. Whether steamed, baked, or roasted and crisp, there’s never any left in my house. And apparently all my neighbors feel the same!

Bashy Halberstam, INHC, CBC When cooking vegetables, I like to leave them somewhat crunchy so they’ll still have that fresh taste. The following is our favorite way to cook broccoli so it’s enjoyed by all ages: I sauté six cloves of garlic, crushed (or frozen garlic cubes) in a little oil. I then add a pack of frozen broccoli (we like the long-stem best). I season with salt and pepper and sauté until all water has released and evaporated.

This is simple, easy, and so delicious.

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Sheindy Unger, CDC

Shaindy Oberlander, BS, INHC

Both broccoli and cauliflower pair well with cheese. The following recipes are from my cookbook, Nourished by Nature.

I don’t know if all kids around the world will go for this, but adults and some juniors certainly will!

Steamed Asian Broccoli

One-Pot Cauliflower Pizza

1 24-oz bag frozen broccoli

12 oz mini cauliflower florets

¼ cup coconut aminos sauce

1 small onion, diced

Pinch sweetener (if you like things sweet!)

1 Tbsp oil

1 Tbsp rice vinegar

4 oz pizza sauce 6 oz shredded cheese On a medium flame, sauté the onion. Add the cauliflower and sauté until soft. Add the sauce and cook until heated thoroughly. Turn off the flame. Add the cheese and mix until melted.

Broccoli Soufflé ½ lb chopped broccoli

1 tsp sesame oil ½ Tbsp fresh ginger, grated 3 cloves garlic, crushed ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes Fill a medium-size pot halfway with water. Boil. Add broccoli and cook for three minutes. Remove from heat and drain immediately. Run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Place broccoli in a large bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients. Toss to coat.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Oil spray Pinch salt and pepper 1 egg ¾ cup shredded cheese Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray broccoli with oil and add spices. Bake covered for 20 minutes. Whisk the egg and mix with ½ cup cheese. Add mixture to broccoli and mix. Top with remaining cheese.

Bake for 5–10 minutes until thoroughly heated.

Shani Taub, CDC

Laura Shammah, MS, RDN Cauliflower and Broccoli Pizza Crusts One of my favorite timesaving kid-approved staples is Dare to Be Different’s cauliflower and broccoli pizza crusts, available in the freezer section of most kosher supermarkets. They’re quick, delicious, and versatile.

Simply bake them until golden and super crispy—my kids won’t eat them any other way! Then top with your choice of sauce, shredded cheese, and simple toppings like olives, mushrooms, or even thinly sliced zucchini. Kids love customizing their own pizza creations, which makes mealtimes more interactive and enjoyable. You can turn nutrient-dense vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and artichokes into meals that are both appealing and enjoyable for children. With the right texture (crispy is key!) and a bit of hands-on fun, even the most reluctant eaters can learn to love these edible flower buds.

I prepare cauliflower and broccoli for every Shabbos. I just spray oil, add spices, and bake.

The kids call it the “green and white trees.”

I also turn them into kugels. The process is simply to cook, mash, add egg whites and spices, and then bake.

Always a favorite!

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Tziri Hershkovitz In any creamy soup, frozen broccoli tossed in during the last ten minutes of cooking will still have the broccoli be crisp and bright green, the perfect natural “crouton.” My oat soup is a family favorite, and the “green mini trees” play no small role.

Mushroom Oat Soup 1 large onion, chopped Fresh (or canned) mushrooms 4 cubes crushed garlic Red pepper, chopped 4 cups chicken broth 1 cup any-style oats Water (as needed) Salt to taste Black pepper to taste Chopped or mini broccoli

Tanya Rosen Getting kids to enjoy broccoli and cauliflower can be a challenge, but with a little creativity, it can become a regular (and even loved) part of their meals. Here are some fun and clever ideas:

Garlic powder (if needed) Sauté onion on medium heat. Add mushrooms, garlic, and chopped red pepper and continue sautéing for another ten minutes. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add oats and cook until soft, adding more water as needed for the right consistency. Spice with salt and black pepper.

Add more garlic powder, if needed. I like to see the veggies when eating, but immersion blending is an option for those who like a creamier soup. Add broccoli and cook for ten minutes before serving.

Broccoli Cheese Nuggets Mix steamed broccoli with shredded cheese, breadcrumbs, and egg. Shape into nuggets and bake. These mimic chicken nuggets and are kidfriendly finger foods.

Broccoli Tater Tots Combine broccoli and cauliflower with shredded potatoes, cheese, and seasonings. Shape into tots and bake. Crispy and familiar!

Green Mac and Cheese Blend steamed broccoli or cauliflower into a cheese sauce and stir it into pasta. The color turns a fun green, and the flavor is masked by the cheese.

Smoothie Boost

Dr. Rachael Teichberg The best thing to do is air-fry the broccoli or cauliflower in egg wash and sourdough breadcrumbs. So irresistible! If that’s too much of a leap for you, mash or blend a steamed cauliflower into your potato kugel. No one will know and you can smile all the way through them eating it!

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Add a small amount of raw or steamed broccoli to a fruit smoothie with banana, pineapple, or mango.

These sweet fruits can easily hide the flavor.

Fun Food Shapes Use cookie cutters or shape broccoli-based dishes (like veggie patties) into stars, animals, or hearts to make them more appealing visually.

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SPICE IT UP

SAFFRON

By Esti Asher, MS, RDN, LD

Saffron is a spice derived from a flower called crocus sativus, commonly known as the “saffron crocus.” It is one of the very few spices that are obtained from an actual blossom, making it a sweet fit for our Shavuos issue.

Saffron has many health benefits, a unique flavor, and various uses in the kitchen. It is often referred to as the “golden spice” and it’s not just a beautiful addition to meals but also a powerhouse of health benefits. It is historically known for both its rich flavor and its potent medicinal properties.

First, saffron is well known for its natural mood-boosting properties. It has been traditionally used as an antidepressant, and research suggests it may also alleviate symptoms of mild to moderate depression. It contains compounds like crocin and safranal that can increase serotonin levels and help fight stress and anxiety. The abundance of antioxidants can help fight oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.

The antioxidants include carotenoids like crocin, which give saffron its signature color and work to promote optimal eye health. In fact, saffron has been linked to improved vision, particularly in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Saffron is a natural digestive aid, helping to soothe the stomach and improve digestion. It promotes the secretion of digestive enzymes and can help reduce symptoms of bloating, indigestion, and nausea. Studies suggest that saffron may support cardiovascular health by helping to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels, as well as improving circulation and reducing inflammation. Regularly consuming saffron may support overall health and even reduce the risk of chronic diseases and cancer.

While lower quality saffron is more readily available, real saffron is inordinately expensive, costing over $10,000 per kilogram—approximately $200 for a small-sized spice bottle. This is due to several reasons: the labor-intensive harvesting process, which involves carefully hand-picking the stigma of the crocus sativus flower—a slow and delicate process with an invariably low yield; its fragility, which makes transport difficult; and its high demand as a spice, dye, and medicine.

Saffron is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes, both savory and sweet. Commonly used in the Middle East and India, it is often included in rice as well as sweets and desserts. It is said to pair beautifully with pistachios in desserts like saffron ice cream and baklava.

Its flavor profile is a complex combination of sweet, earthy, and floral notes, with a subtle hint of bitterness that can truly transform dishes. Its delicate aroma is instantly recognizable, and it adds a warm, golden hue to any dish. Whether added to rice, soups, desserts, or even drinks, saffron infuses meals with an exotic twist.

Esti Asher, MS, RDN, LD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and passionate about helping women reach their ultimate health and wellbeing potential. She shares credible, clear, and inspiring nutrition information with women via her virtual private practice. Esti’s kind and positive approach not only benefits her clients but often has a positive ripple effect on their loved ones. To contact Esti with feedback or inquiries regarding her nutritional services, please email her at esti@estiashernutrition.com or visit estiashernutrition.com.

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WELLSPRING / APRIL 2025

WELLSPRING / ADAR 5785

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HOLISTIC

c i t s i l Ho

Emotional Health

By Tziri Hershkovitz In Parashas Kedoshim, right in the middle of the list of halachos on creating a harmonious, just, and practically utopian society, we come across the commandment we’re all familiar with: “Ve’ahavta le’rei’acha kamocha.” Surrounding this mitzvah are pesukim phrased in the negative: Don’t gossip. Don’t take revenge. Don’t withhold wages. Don’t eat blood.

Yet, according to Rabbi Akiva, “Ve’ahavta le’rei’acha kamocha” is not only a positive mitzvah; it’s a central premise of Yiddishkeit. We’re not talking about the universally accepted golden rule, “don’t punch his nose lest he end up punching yours.” The Torah is commanding something else entirely: Love him, not because of what you’ll get (or won’t get), but simply because Ani Hashem—I commanded you to.

Living with love in our hearts is an inspiring and elevating concept, but why is it davka in this parashah? Why surround this beautiful, positive mitzvah with so many lo sa’asehs?

Our Torah is eternal, which is a tremendous comfort, seeing that society has been on a downward slide ever since. Take parenting.

There was a time when children knew to respect their parents, just because. Nowadays, the concern is whether we are showing our children proper respect. In his day, the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoel zy”a, said, “Children know they’re smarter than their parents. Had they not been embarrassed to, they’d insist they were older, too.”

But kids of today don’t even bother with that. By relegating their parents’ wisdom and sensibilities to “outdated ideologies,” older is no longer a respectable position. The younger generation is convinced they understand the rules of life better—and therefore, rules from before no longer apply.

In today’s world, anything goes. Children are being encouraged from early childhood to “break all barriers” and “be who you want to be.” Prompted by the latest, often unsubstantiated psychology, parents are urged toward positive parenting. “Avoid the word ‘no,’” they’re cautioned. “Don’t set too many rules; it will prompt rebellion.”

Not so surprisingly, the lack of rules has given rise to a dangerous world where right and wrong are, at most, suggestions. The assumption was that the “positive” attitude would eradicate all negative behavior. Instead, we find that without the rules, even self-esteem is at an all-time low.

The precise place where the Torah introduces us to love is absolutely relevant. Healthy love needs to be anchored by rules. Only then can we truly soar.

Tziri Hershkovitz is founder of Hakol Beseder and author of the book by the same name. She is passionate in her belief that Hashem designed this beautiful world to be enjoyed. Discover more on the free hotline, 347.772.1188, or visit www.HakolBeseder.org to sign up for the monthly newsletter, purchase the popular book, or register for Tziri’s life-altering workshops. Every woman is more than just a homemaker—and with the right tools and skills, she’ll discover the bliss that awaits.

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WELLSPRING / JUNE 2025

Physical Health

Spiritual Health

Adina Mintz, PA-C

By Vichna (Devorah) Belsky

The positive impact of flowers and plants on our mood is well-documented. But beyond their emotional benefits, did you know that flowers can also support our physical health?

The pasuk for my middle name, Devorah, sums up so much of what I do and what I try to teach others. Mishlei (12:25) says, “Da’ageh be’lev ish yashchenah ve’davar tov yisamichenah.”

Flowers and plants act as natural air purifiers. They release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, helping to cleanse and refresh the air around us. For example, the peace lily is known for its ability to remove toxins like benzene and formaldehyde—harmful chemicals often found in everyday household items such as aerosol sprays, cleaning products, and even furniture. These airborne toxins can trigger allergic reactions, headaches, and respiratory issues.

Flowers can aid in pain relief and support faster recovery from illness or injury. In one study, hospital patients recovering from abdominal surgery with plants in their rooms required less pain medication and displayed better physiological markers—including lower blood pressure and heart rate—as compared to similar patients without plants in their rooms. The patients with plants also reported experiencing less pain, anxiety, and fatigue, and expressed greater satisfaction with their recovery environment than those in plant-free rooms.

Another remarkable benefit of flowers is their ability to improve sleep quality, a crucial aspect of our overall health.

The majority of the population does not get the recommended 7–8 hours of sleep per night, leading to increased risk of health concerns such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes and significant reduction in daytime energy and productivity.

While many turn to sleep aids that may carry undesirable side effects, nature offers a gentler solution. Flowers and plants help improve air quality, making it easier to breathe and sleep more soundly. For instance, the snake plant releases oxygen at night, while aromatic plants like lavender and jasmine can promote relaxation and calm through their soothing scents. The result? Deeper sleep and enhanced physical and mental performance.

Rabbi Yitzchok Kirzner translates the pasuk as “When there is worry in a man’s heart, let him subdue it [by turning his attention to positive thoughts]. Let a good word of Torah convert it to joy.”

The Malbim explains that deep in a person’s psyche lie all the possible moods he can be in. A person has the ability to subdue or elevate any mood that flits into his mind. This pasuk teaches that when anxiety enters a person’s mind and tries to take over, he can bring up thoughts of good things to subdue the worry and replace it with positive thoughts.

Studies have shown that focusing on the positive has a measurable positive impact on physical and mental health. Despite all the troubles and challenges a person may face, there is always goodness and beauty to find in the world. A person who chooses to focus more on the positive will see that they attract more positivity and growth.

The Torah is a wonderful gift that Hashem gave us to use to better our lives. Beyond the direct mitzvos, there is a trove of uplifting and positive messages hidden throughout the Torah.

This Shavuos, as we adorn our homes with beautiful blooms, let us also recognize the incredible gift they represent. Like all of Hashem’s creations, flowers are designed with our wellbeing in mind—a Divine gift that nurtures body and soul alike.

On Shavuos, we have a special focus on Tehillim—the unique repository of every possible human experience and challenge—together with tools to ace them.

When you feel a negative mood start to rise, consider opening a Tehillim and let the words of Tanach guide you to transform your worry into joy.

Adina Mintz, PA-C, is passionate about helping women feel their best—whatever their stage in life. Adina graduated as a PA from SUNY and received training at the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M).

With over 15 years of medical experience, she believes every woman can live a pain-free, energetic life, and would love to teach them how. Find out more by downloading her free guide “5 Small Changes with a Big Impact On Your Health” at njfunctionalmed.com

A bona fide horse-lover, Vichna Belsky, BS, CLC, is the founder of My Path – Bishvili, which sadly does not involve any live horses at this time. Happily, it doesn’t involve dead horses either. However, she can talk all day and not get hoarse. In fact, on most days that is what she does. To hear her classes on the Tehillim of Shabbos, dial (641) 715-3800, access code 827793.

WELLSPRING / SIVAN 5785

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