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I’ve always been fascinated by Pharaoh’s pajamas. Every little kid loves to sing about “Pharaoh in pajamas in the middle of the night.” On the night of the Exodus, at the stroke of midnight, the final plague – the Death of the Firstborn – began. The obstinate and brazen Pharaoh finally broke. His resolve was gone, as was his dignity. He ran through the streets of Goshen in a frenzied panic, screaming out to the amused Jews to tell him where Moshe and Aharon lived. The former slaves decided to recapture some of their dignity and they began pointing him in all directions. When Pharaoh finally discovered the home of Moshe and Aharon, he cried out that they and their people were free, and they should leave immediately. Moshe replied that they would not leave until the morning.

Everyone in the Staum family knows that Uncle Yitz is 38 years old and is turning 39 on his birthday.

Uncle Yitz is my father’s older brother. He and my Aunt Chaya are blessed with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

It’s just one of those things that everyone knows. Golden Blossom makes honey, Tenuva produces milk and cheese, and Maxwell House publishes the Haggadah.

I always wondered what the connection is between Maxwell House Coffee and the Haggadah. I’m sure I’m not the only one. With a little research (read, G-O-O-G-L-E), I finally found out the answer.

Whether we realize it or not, we all adapt our personalities to suit our environment. We were all born defenseless into our family of origin. We needed to adjust our behavior in order to thrive and to fit into our family. Let’s be honest. Some family trees bear an enormous crop of nuts.

On Purim afternoon, when I entered the home of a friend to give him mishloach manos, there were a few women talking, one of whom was wearing a homemade hat with a propeller on top that had the words “helicopter parent” beneath it. When she saw me looking at it and laughing, she told me that her mother had long accused her of being a helicopter mom, and now she finally decided to just embrace it.

Ever meet someone who has no earthly idea how difficult they are to be around? He may even have a heightened belief in his own excellence or perfection. No matter how sensitively you deliver the criticism, she will simply get offended or even accuse you of being impolite or rude.