It was my last Shabbat in Jerusalem the holiest city of the world, yet I felt after a year’s stay, I had yet one more experience to encounter: visiting the reputed “Avraham and Sarah” of our generation, the Machlis family. They are known to be the family with many, many guests who show up to their door- unannounced.  

Rona Ram addresse the community, following her very recent attendance at the White House where she was invited to President Bush’s Chanukah Reception.  Rona describes the emotions her journey took her through as she represented the Iranian Jewish community to the President.

Recently, my good friend Karmel Melamed wrote an article about an epidemic of sorts that has spread in our community -- extravagantly large and elaborate weddings. As Karmel says, there is "a growing number of young Iranian Jewish professionals who, due to family pressure, are incurring large debts to pay for lavish weddings." Personally, I believe this is only part of the problem, with the root cause being something much larger; a problem that affects other aspects of our lives as well.

My best friend just got engaged after only a month and a half of dating. She met the guy through the Jewish dating system, a Shidduch, and they are an amazingly well-suited couple. What I don't understand is, how after such a short while can they possibly know enough to decide to live with each other for the rest of their lives? It can take years to know that you have found the right one. I don't understand how people "just know" in as little as a month or two. Can you explain?