By Rabbanit Shani Taragin Posted originally at HaMizrachi Since October 7th, I have frequently found myself at a loss for words when responding to the hackneyed, “How are you?” or attempting to explain the inexplicable. Psychologists often attribute speech deficiency to an experience of trauma which decreases activity in Broca’s area, located in the left hemisphere of the brain and associated with speech production and articulation.  Aphasia – the term used to describe an acquired loss of language that damages the capacity to speak, listen, read and write – may be caused by psychologi ..read more

by Rivkah Lambert Adler Originally posted at The Jerusalem Post online, April 13, 2024 It includes contributions from 35 Torah scholars, friends, and “heroes who contribute beautiful and inspiring pieces of Torah while facing daily speech, language, and disability struggles.” Eitan Ashman, a 48-year-old resident of Efrat, suffered a massive stroke in the middle of the night, nearly six years ago. Prior to his stroke, Ashman, husband to Leora and father of four, ran his own property management business, was an active Magen David Adom volunteer, a CrossFit instructor, and taught Torah in his l ..read more

by Josh Hasten Originally posted at Jewish News Syndicate, 12/4/24 New, inclusive Haggadah aims to empower your seder The Haggadah is the brainchild of Efrat residents Leora Ashman and her husband Eitan, who developed aphasia following an ischemic stroke in 2017. A brand-new Passover Haggadah titled, “Empowering Seder Conversations,” published just in time for the holiday, is designed to promote inclusion at the Seder table, making the special evening more accessible for those suffering from aphasia and other neurological challenges. Aphasia is a condition that robs a person of the ability ..read more

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For more information on this haggadah, visit Urim Publications ..read more

Rabbi Leo Dee is the author of Transforming the World, Urim Publications ..read more

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by Jeffrey Saks Orhinally posted at Tradition Online, March 27, 2024 The Pesach Haggadah allows us, each year, to rediscover the challenges that faced us as a fledgling nation and to consider how the messages of our founding redemption resonate as we have overcome countless struggles “in each and every generation.” Often these daunting threats have faced the entire Jewish people, at other times localized populations, and on occasion distinct individuals whose heroism serves as a model for us all. At this time of nationwide—and worldwide—Jewish struggle, I think of some remarkable figures in ..read more

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by Rochel Sylvetsky Original post on Arutz 7 The Jewish impact on modernity is explained in this clear, readable book in a way that presents the case for Jewish continuity and adds original creative insights to Torah observance. It has taken me several weeks from the time I received it to write about the book “Transforming the World: The Jewish Impact on Modernity” (Urim Publications, find Hebrew version here), by Rabbi Leo Dee. The reason? Well it is true that the war in Gaza and prayers for those fighting or wounded have rightly pushed everything else to the background, it is a ..read more