My Best Friend

From Esty's journal entry recently found, (written between ages 12-15) Chapter 35: (page 87)

My Dearest Friend

Although that I’ve had many good friends, the one who lives through my day to day lives is my mother. We do everything together. My mother and I, we go shopping, go to the library, talk together and take walks. We help each other out. I help her with the kids in the kitchen, with the housework and laundry. She helps me with my homework and gives me good advice when I am in trouble. I know I can trust her, so I tell her what is on my mind or what is bothering me.

My mother’s always there to give me a kind word, simple advice, and a smile. Now that I am away from home, I may feel homesick; have trouble with my homework or with friends. I keep in touch with my mother. She calls me and I tell her what’s happening in school. After I speak with her, I feel more calm in my situation.

Maybe when I become a mother someday, I may also be a best friend to my daughters. I’m sure we will be close, sharing our secrets with each other. I will always be there to listen and to try to give advice.

I feel proud to have a best friend like my mother!

Shabbos Candles

From a Journal/Diary Entry of her brother Yossi's Bar-Mitzvah

Teves 19-21 5752 / Thurs-Shabbos Dec 26-28

Dear Diary,

At about 2pm, I went to deliver flowers, along with a card, a Challah roll, and of course, a smile to the Jewish patients at Albany Med. It felt good inside, to see that even some of the patients were appreciative (although some couldn’t show it) and it was good even to see the encouraging smile of the nurses. I couldn’t help it but feel proud that I could give them a taste of Shabbos/Yiddishkeit.

By the time I came back all the cousins were here… and it was almost Shabbos.

As I waved my hands 3 times around the Shabbos candles, I felt calm, peaceful, and full of warmth. No words can describe the wonderful feeling a girl / woman has, as she brings in Shabbos with the waving of her hands, and her soft and gentle Bracha. Just the experience says it all.

It was the time to realize the special and holiness of Shabbos. I looked beside me. Here was my cousin: Nechama Dina Piekarski, only a year younger than me. And there was another cousin Sossy Zaklos, just two years older than me.

How fortunate am I to have such a big family, ka”h, with so many cousins and close friends. These are the special people with whom we share our happy memories and even the sad ones. How fortunate am I! … I thought to myself.

Thank you for listening dearest diary, love always, Esty Rubin