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etiquette

An American wedding in Israel

My fiance, David, cheerfully agreed to designate groomsmen to accompany my green-clad friends down the aisle (another ceremonial tradition not done in Israel — there, only the bride and groom walk down the aisle). However, despite showing them how lovely matching bridesmaids and groomsmen look on David\’s Bridals\’ Web site, we could not convince his three brothers to wear matching suits.

How to reduce restlessness among tweens and teens at services

Author Gail Anthony Greenberg attributes the change to a societal trend empowering kids to make their own decisions. \”These days, we give children more latitude,\” she added. As a result, many rabbis, administrators, parents and even bar mitzvah party vendors take preventative measures to quell chatty, restless or precocious preteen guests from being disruptive at bar mitzvah ceremonies and receptions.

The so-called ‘perfect date’

The date was going really well. The conversation was flowing. We were practically finishing each other\’s sentences.

Deal or No Deal

Some women would argue that your expectations should go down the longer you are single. I say a deal breaker is a deal breaker, and the fact that you have turned 28
for several years in a row doesn\’t mean you should dismiss core things you want in a guy.

Dear Mr. Sensitive

I\’ll be 50 soon, which I\’m not afraid to admit in print. Not many men seem willing to date women their own age.

Focus on Philanthropy

I don\’t know about how others think about gift giving, but I am honestly confused about it myself. Year after year, questions continue to gnaw at me like: What is the right amount for a gift? Should I support Jewish organizations first and then donate to other charities, like my alma mater or the Red Cross, only after I have made my Jewish gifts?

Pitfalls of Making Playdate Plans

Brandon was 3 the first time another mother called me to schedule a playdate.

\”A playdate,\” I giggled. \”That\’s so clever! Did you make that up yourself?\” (The dead silence on the other end of the phone clued me in that I had just made a monumental maternal faux pas that could potentially rival my last monumental maternal faux pas of offering up a bag of artificially colored/flavored Cheetos — rather than the au natural variety — to my son\’s playgroup.) The other mother suddenly had a dire emergency and promised to call back. She didn\’t.

Are Cell Phones Ever Cool in Shul?

A few weeks ago, I was at a funeral at Mount Sinai in Glendale when, at one of the most emotional moments, a cell phone rang loudly for several minutes, humming a Broadway tune.

Fate With a Frummie

Of all the Jew joints, in all the towns, in all the world, I walk into his. The artist formerly known as Jake didn\’t just go to my high school. I was a freshman cheerleader in a sophomore geometry class and Jake was the hot football player who sat next to me.

Protocol

Rules of etiquette suggest that one must whisper in a library. But for the Jewish Community Library of Greater Los Angeles, that rule is just the beginning.\n\nThe library recently held its culminating ceremony for a group of youngsters enrolled in its Children\’s Etiquette and Social Grace class. This is the first time that the institution has sponsored such a class.\n\nThe idea developed after the library director Abigail Yasgur and children\’s director Sylvia Lowe, children\’s librarian, enrolled their respective youngsters in an etiquette class.\n\n\”Libraries are not just about the books,\” Lowe said. \”They\’re becoming meeting places for people in the community.\”

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Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.