Summer is coming to a close (how quickly the seasons change), and children will soon don their backpacks, filled with pristine notebooks and newly sharpened pencils, and head out the door. What are their thoughts and hopes – and what are those of their parents and teachers? If last year was a successful one, they anticipate more happy times. If last year was a disaster, they hope this year will be better. But all of them, all of us – parents, teachers, and kids – wonder what they can do to make this upcoming year a great one. Here are some insights and ideas from children, teachers, parents.

Summer is winding down, and vacation season is coming to a close. Taking a cue from the classic first-day-of-school essay that teachers tell children to write, I will ask, what did your family do this summer and, more importantly, was it a vacation for you?

“The kids had a great time, but it wasn’t a vacation for me,” said Yehuda, a father of seven after a family trip. When asked what would be a vacation for him, he said, “A vacation for me includes my own bed, food that I like, and cool air-conditioning. Obviously, to Yehuda, a real vacation is spent in his bedroom!

Rabbi Pesach Krohn tells a story about a guard who worked in a slaughterhouse. When he was about to lock up the facility at the end of the day, he realized that one of the shochtim had not come out. They went inside to look for him and found that the shochet had gotten locked in one of the freezers. He was slowly freezing to death, but the guard were able to revive him. How did the guard know that this shochet had not left yet?

Exercise is a topic that arouses passions, either positive or negative.

For enthusiastic exercisers, it is the highlight of their life. “I found a beautiful trail near my house, and I go there to walk and run a few times a week,” said Dovid. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything. It clears my head and makes me feel great. I am always surprised that there is no one else on the trail.”

Then there are people like my friend Sara, who says, “The only exercise I do is jumping to conclusions.” For these non-exercisers, it is uncomfortable to even talk about exercise, something they know they should be doing but don’t.

Recently my father was in the hospital for a couple of weeks. That drew my attention to the nurses who care for those who must spend time in the hospital. It was inspiring to meet people who dedicate their lives to caring for others at their most vulnerable time. It is not easy or pleasant work. The nurses I saw were on their feet all the time, responsible for many patients, and dealing with life and death situations. We had a WellTab tablet for my father, so I could see the nurses coming in and out of the room even when I wasn’t able to be with my father.

Another thing I noticed through the WellTab was that you could tell immediately which of the nurses were part of our community. The way they dress – in skirts, covering their hair, and with long sleeves – is different and unique and makes them stand out from the other staff.

The use of silver and gold has a long history, beginning from when the Jewish people left Egypt. These precious metals were used in the Mishkan and the Beis Hamikdash, and Jews throughout history fashioned beautiful items from them to enhance the mitzvas.

When it comes to silver, Gilda’s Gifts is a Baltimore “institution,” serving the needs of Baltimoreans for 36 years. I had the opportunity to interview Gilda to find out about her business. When Gilda began her story of hashgacha pratis, I was surprised to learn that my father actually played a part in the story.