With most everyone leading crazy/busy lives, finding time for Bible reading can seem like a luxury. It’s similar to exercise—people buy gym memberships but never visit, and they own Bibles, but rarely open them, yet we know that both are necessary for our physical and mental health.

Where and how to start, especially if you’ve never done it, can seem daunting indeed. After all, it’s a very long book, with a lot of complicated information, that’s hard to analyze and digest. 

Sure, you can open the first page and begin with Genesis. There is wrong with that approach, however, it may go no further. (I know multiple people who have attempted Genesis repeatedly but never progressed.)

Personally, I think Proverbs is the best place to start, for two reasons:

1. Proverbs is uniquely suited for women

2. Proverbs has 31 chapters

By reading only 1 chapter per day, which is not a huge burden, you can finish it completely in one month. These chapters are short and shouldn’t require more than 15 minutes daily, even for the slowest readers. Fast readers can do it in 5 minutes. 

Why is Proverbs important? This article sums it up so well. Boiled down to its most basic essence, Proverbs teaches us how to live the best life. It offers wisdom, warnings, and describes the ideal woman (sometimes referred to literally as the “Proverbs 31 Woman” because of the corresponding verse.) I truly love Proverbs because it speaks to a woman’s heart on a very deep level.

I know you’re busy; I’m busy too, but there is nothing more important than growing spiritually and getting peace, strength and contentment from the Word of God. Please find the time. It’s so worth it! 

Any other Proverbs fans out there?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has inspired another dimwit to run for office as a Democratic Socialist. Julia Salazar, who is 27-years-old and wants to be a New York State Senator, seems to be a carbon copy of Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, especially when it comes to lying. Her wildest claims involve being Jewish—both in practice and in heritage.

Unfortunately for Ms. Salazar, multiple sources have come forward to set the record straight, catching her in numerous outright lies and distortions about her background, her family, and her faith. 

Here is a small sample:

“…in her early 20s, while attending Columbia University, she served as president of Columbia Right to Life, the campus’ leading anti-abortion group; became heavily involved in the right-leaning Christians United for Israel; and appeared on the online show of Glenn Beck, as a participant in a student training program sponsored by CUFI. One acquaintance who knew Salazar during her time as a CUFI activist said that she wasn’t shy about her Christian faith, dropping the occasional ‘praise Jesus’ into casual conversation.”

Within the space of only two years, Salazar had completely changed politically and began presenting herself as a left-wing Jew, an anti-Zionist, and Pro-BDS.

She claims to have had a Reform conversion in 2012, yet no Rabbi will confirm it, no conversion ceremony ever took place, and she has no conversion certificate—all of which is standard for any legit conversion. 

With her present affiliation to Judaism proven sketchy at best, she then claimed to be of Sephardic heritage, on her Father’s side. There’s only one problem: her own brother denied it, stating: “Nobody in our immediate family is Jewish.”

So she didn’t grow up Jewish, she didn’t practice Judaism as a young adult, and now, when it’s ever-so-convenient to be Jewish while running in New York State, she’s magically Jewish!  

And, if that wasn’t enough, she even lied about being an immigrant, during an interview with a Socialist magazine. “My family immigrated to the U.S. from Colombia when I was a baby,” was the claim. 

But she was born in Miami…

No matter how you slice it, Julia Salazar is a complete fraud who is unfit to serve for any public office. Even those who would give her a pass on religion have to admit that she outright lied about her place of birth. All of this was done to fake an identity, pandering to the many Jews and Latinos who will vote in the upcoming election. 

It demonstrates a complete lack of ethics and integrity, proving that she has no real position on any issue and will say/do/or become anyone or anything to be elected. This is the worst sort of opportunist, out to enrich only herself, at the public expense. 

The following guest post was contributed by a lovely Israeli lady who has chosen to make America her home. Moving to another country is never easy. Ravit Dayan shares what challenges she has faced as an immigrant and offers some excellent solutions that can encourage all moms, regardless of where we come from. Her unique perspective is so beneficial.

I’m an Israeli stay-at-home mom living in the US. It was always a dream of mine to come to this country, and I’m so proud that I’ve built my life here. After arriving when I was 24-years-old, it’s been a busy and fulfilling 10 years. I have a loving husband, a beautiful 2-year-old son, and a baby due in September.

I love being a mother more than anything, and I receive so much joy from parenting. But, a question stuck out in my mind: “Do I have to live without a consistent dose of intellectual adult stimulation or challenge, whether from learning or conversation, just because I have prioritized motherhood?”

It can be difficult to make time for that type of fulfillment since being a mother with small children is never ending. It’s a lot of diapers, dishes, and sleepless nights. However, I made the personal decision that I could be a super-mom AND a career woman. I can do both: be the ideal mother and be intellectually engaged.

Since our networks aren’t deep here in the U.S., (it’s often isolating to live outside of the large Israeli networks like Miami, NY or LA) I personally began looking into online options. I decided to research getting another degree. (What a great way to engage with other students, learn new things, and expand my mind, right?)

But the dream didn’t last long. I soon found that getting a university education can be extremely expensive. Besides that, the enrollment process was tedious and time-consuming (and the last thing I have is time). They sure don’t make it easy for moms with dreams to go back to college!

My husband is an entrepreneur who’s grown accustomed through the years to hearing my many ideas. With this challenge in particular, he saw that the issue I was having was also shared by millions of people. He decided to launch a startup that could ease the burden. By providing help to get your first year of college free, parents like me can pursue our dreams while raising our kids. It was exactly what I was looking for.

Being a mom teaches us a lot. One learns how to challenge their child mentally, emotionally, and physically, how to be productive, how to shower in under 1 minute, and to appreciate coffee. It should also teach us that we can do everything we set our minds to, including personal goal setting.

Here are three steps you can take right now to improve your situation :

1. Learn Something New Each Day

Studies show that sticking to the same routine, day in and day out, results in decreased energy, low mood, and passivity. Over time, remaining stuck in a chronic rut can look like a lack of motivation or creativity, and feeling unfulfilled.

To counter the pull, commit to learning something fresh each day. Open the laptop during naptime and pursue that new hobby, new skill, or new career path. 

2. Breathe New Life into Your Days

Keep new endeavors and learning ventures on the horizon. Research shows that our happiness spikes when we’re focused on a challenging task. Make time for fun. Try to enjoy whatever free moments you have. Yes, we are busy moms, but life isn’t supposed to be miserable. We all need things that make us happy, no matter how small.

3. Accomplish Something Concrete

When you’re stuck in a rut, the way out seems unfathomable. This perpetuates the rut. So how do you achieve something big when you’re busy battling sleepless nights, endless diapers, and mountains of laundry?

One way out is goal-setting. Even if it’s something small, accomplishing a measurable goal results in a dopamine spike to the brain.

From getting enrolled in school during an episode of Blippi, to taking educational courses during naptime, any milestone checked off is a confidence boost, propelling you to that next step toward achieving your life goals.

So that’s how I found something that works for me. That fits my (impossible) schedule. It feels good knowing that I can accomplish anything as a mommy, and that I’ve found ways to remain stimulated so far from my established networks in Israel. That I’m paving a life for myself beyond my kids. You can take the steps above and do the same!

About the Author:

Ravit Dayan is an Israeli-American and stay-at-home mom. She enjoys writing about her experiences, educating her son, and helping other young moms. In her free time, she runs one of the most popular Baby Shower pages on Instagram and works on the family startup, Online Degree.

Chabad of Skokie is offering free 2018/2019 Jewish Art calendars. The Calendar includes detailed information on holidays, Shabbat, candle-lighting times, traditional recipes, and Jewish artwork. 

To receive a copy, request one at the website. You do not have to live in Skokie to participate.