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So, there was my car, minding its own business, parked on the side of the road just up the block from the yeshivah. It was the morning of Taanis Esther, and it would be a busy afternoon for me, before Purim began. I got out of the car to enter the yeshivah building. My son Avi was still sitting in the car, when he heard a bump.

As I have done during the last few winters, this past January I had the great fortune to visit Eretz Yisrael for a few days. Being there is always invigorating. The fact that I was able to spend that time with our son Shalom, who is learning in Yeshivas Mir, and enjoy a Shabbos with my brother Yaakov and his family made it all the more special.

Erev Pesach is an intensely busy time. It’s also a very hungry time. By late morning, we can no longer eat chametz, but we are also not permitted to eat any matzah. The Seder doesn’t begin until after dark, and we don’t eat the seudah (Shulchan Oreich) until some time after that. It’s not easy finding something to eat on Pesach afternoon that will hold you over for a few hours.

The following thoughts are adapted from the speech I delivered at the aufruf of our new son-in-law, Shloime Stern, Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemini 5785:

On January 19, 1988, The New York Times published the following Letter to the Editor:

Last week, my wife and I were blessed to marry off our daughter, Aviva. Aviva is our second child, but the first from our family to get married. I wanted to share some personal reflections along with some sage advice that we received, which I hope can be helpful for others as well.