If the WWW hadn’t asked me to write an article about an upcoming chamber music concert – where a Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Dovid Lipson, would be playing piano – I more than likely would never have considered attending, even if I had noticed the advertisement. Although I have enjoyed classical music occasionally in the past (Dvorak comes to mind), and I have a fairly eclectic taste in music, classical music wasn’t something on my usual “playlist.” But because music itself has been on my mind these past few months – I have been preparing various articles on the subject – I was eager to speak with yet another musician, particularly one who is a Rosh Kollel, who would surely offer unusual insights. What a privilege it was to even speak with such a person!

According to recent reports, we should be having an early spring this year, although, I admit, there are those who doubt the reliability of Phil the Groundhog’s predictions. In the event that his forecast is wrong and the cold weather drags on, I thought I would present some tried and true suggestions on how to keep warm while avoiding a thousand-dollar-a-month heating bill. Unfortunately, hibernation seems out of the question for most humans. Moving south is something else to consider, but for many that is not practical. Following are a few other ideas:

A while back, I saw a Facebook post which suggested bringing a hot water bottle to bed, however, commentators chimed in saying this can be dangerous. If the water bottle is old, damaged, or not correctly filled, it can lead to leakage and burns. Other options include electric heating pads or electric blankets or grain-filled bed/body warmers. Personally, I don’t feel comfortable with an electric blanket. First of all, it isn’t snuggly; you can feel the wires running through it. And when I had one years ago, I was always worrying that if I turned the wrong way I would either ruin the blanket or electrocute myself. This is true of a heating pad as well, which actually has a warning to not use it while sleeping. My only choice, it seems, is the warmers you can microwave.

Marijuana use has become more socially acceptable lately, with many states legalizing it for medical and, increasingly, for recreational use. There is a distinction. Medical marijuana must be recommended by a physician and obtained from state-regulated outlets. In Maryland, medical marijuana is legal but recreational marijuana is not. However, a law passed in 2014 decriminalized the possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana, making it a civil infraction, similar to a traffic ticket.

The movement to legalize marijuana is a big change from the past, and although proponents make some good arguments, there are many unknowns. The major question is, is marijuana really harmless?  

Although marijuana – like alcohol and nicotine – is often called a “gateway drug,” the fact is that the majority of people who have tried or habitually use any of these substances do not go on to abuse “harder” drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. However, the vast majority of those who do become addicted to more harmful substances began their drug careers only after using these starter substances. Alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana “prime the brain for a heightened response to other drugs,” according to the NIH. But is this the only reason to avoid “soft” drug use?

Sherlock Holmes, Sam Spade, Nancy Drew, Hercule Poirot, Precious Ramotswe, Kinsey Millhone, and David Cohen. Which name doesn’t belong? The mystery aficionados among us will recognize the first six names as fictional detectives. As for the seventh, well, in the U.S. at least, it’s less common to associate an obviously Jewish name with the concept of working as a professional private investigator.

As someone who grew up reading Nancy Drew – and went on to become hooked on various other detective and/or mystery series – I always had a half desire to become a detective myself. But for most of us, I suspect, the idea of actually going into that field never seriously crossed our minds. David Cohen, however, did start thinking along those lines by the time he was in high school and college. “I wanted something interesting, where I would be unique in my profession - something with which I could help people,” he says.

We, as a community, have suffered our share of tragic overdose deaths, and many community members and their families are suffering the effects of various addictions. But what is addiction? Is it a brain disease? A moral failing? Or something else? And how should it be treated? Is entering an inpatient rehab facility the best way to cure addiction? Is attending 12-step programs the only effective option for those in recovery? Or are there alternative approaches?

After I started reading and listening to experts on YouTube about addiction, I, too, became “hooked” – on learning as much as possible about the subject, that is. So much of what I believed turned out to be not evidence-based science. Even when there is evidence-based data, scientists don’t necessarily agree on what addiction is, interpreting the same information in different ways.

Ruthie and Menachem Schwartz* have five children in day schools and yeshivas who are thriving. An additional child of theirs, Ari, age 16, has not been doing as well. He’s been suffering for the past three years from a form of skin cancer that, after a short remission, has been getting worse. The Schwartzes are beside themselves with worry but don’t know where to turn. Nothing seems to be helping on a long-term basis. They don’t know anyone in the community who has faced this difficult challenge and feel very isolated in their suffering.

Fearing the stigma associated with this serious disease, they have avoided making his condition known, trying to spare their other children the embarrassment of being known as the siblings of a child with this challenge. They are especially concerned that if word gets out, their daughter next in line to marry will be shunned for shidduchim and the younger boys will have problems getting into good yeshivas.