Dec 13 2012
By Mayim Bialik at 10:31 am
Hanukkah started Saturday night. Here’s what I’ve learned this week.
1. Hanukkah doesn’t have to be a huge deal. It can be about simple things: being together, small gifts, spinning a dreidel.
2. It’s hard being a working mama and missing out on daytime Hanukkah parties and fairs and such. Grumpy about that for sure.
3. Putting kids first is absolutely critical at any stage of a marital relationship. Kids matter so much more than our “issues” do. It is wonderful to be able to give them a safe and joyous holiday despite what we are handling.
4. There’s not much sweeter than watching small hands hold a shamash. Read the rest of this entry →
Dec 10 2012
By Mayim Bialik at 12:16 pm
As I posted last week, The Yeshiva University Maccabeats have a new Hanukkah video out. In addition, four of my favorite Maccabeats have now formed a new group separate from The Maccabeats called StandFour. They put out an awesome Hanukkah “mash-up” of three popular songs written with Hanukkah-lyrics which I am loving upside down and backwards.
What I wanted to focus on, though, was something I touched on in my post about making the holidays meaningful by giving. And how taking active steps to not “just” make the holidays about the consumerism and the gifts reminds us and shows our children that giving is the true spirit of the holiday season. Read the rest of this entry →
Dec 5 2012
By Mayim Bialik at 1:04 pm
Photo credit: Daniel Jankovic Productions
As the holiday season begins, I am reminded again of my distaste for consumerism, commercials that only revolve around Santa Claus, and the assumption on every street corner that everyone celebrates Christmas. In my grumpiness, I am also reminded of my desire to break out of the Scrooge-rut and try and find joy in the holiday season.
What occurred to me about my distaste for the consumer madness is that I feel it especially negatively impacts my (and your, I suppose) children. All of those prodding commercials and ads in the newspaper and the signs and posters and billboards, the turning of a trip to the mall anytime between Thanksgiving and January a maze of Santas beckoning you to sit on their laps, shops enticing you with sales–bah, Humbug. Read the rest of this entry →
Dec 3 2012
By Mayim Bialik at 1:35 pm
As many of you know, I have had a several years-long obsession with the Yeshiva University Maccabeats. They are an all male a cappella group who released a Hanukkah video, “Candlelight” two Hanukkahs ago that went viral and sort of changed the face of Modern Orthodoxy and how gentiles and Jews view Orthodoxy. They sang for President Obama, they sell T-shirts (I own several and a hoodie), every Jewish kid knows who they are (and most of the kids’ moms too…). They’re wonderful and talented and sweet. Read the rest of this entry →
