Love Thy Neighbor  

Neighbors. When you live so close to someone else, you become a part of their life — from sharing in their simchahs to borrowing a cup of sugar to knowing their daily schedule. But what happens when your neighbor is spiteful, demanding, or can’t respect your boundaries? Three women share their story of a difficult neighbor

The Friend across the Street

Three days after my husband and I moved into our beautiful house in the Five Towns, I met my neighbor Shaina. The kids were in school, my husband was at work, and I was at home unpacking boxes when the doorbell rang.

A woman in a blonde sheitel was at the door. “Hello!” she said with a big smile, holding up a lemon bundt cake. “I’m Shaina. Your neighbor across the street. I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood!”

“This is so nice of you!” I exclaimed, taking the cake from her. “Please come in and have a cup of coffee. I’ve been hoping to meet some of our neighbors.”

I invited her into my kitchen, and we sat at the table with coffee and her delicious cake. “If you have any questions about anything, let me know,” Shaina said. “I’ve been here for five years already, so I know everything about shuls, schools, babysitters. Anything you need to know.”