Journalist or Jew? –

I am one lucky woman. I get to write for what I consider to be the most outstanding Jewish magazine in the world. I know that what I write will be read by my community by fellow Orthodox Jews who care about the same issues I do women with husbands and kids and dreams and worries just like me. My work for Mishpacha has never been just a job. It’s a passion a mission a miracle.

It’s also an enormous responsibility one that I feel much more pressing because I live as an Orthodox Jew. If I were just a hired employee an English major from university a skilled writer or editor for hire it would only be my responsibility to make sure that I make deadline and deliver quality writing. But because I am first and foremost an Orthodox Jew then writer the responsibility I feel to the klal stretches far beyond the job description of Mishpacha writer. I love the letters that begin “Thank you you changed my life….” And I cringe because the opposite can also be true. I can do damage with my words and it scares the daylights out of me.

As the health columnist for Mishpacha never has this been more clearly revealed than when I spend many hours interviewing dozens of people for a major feature on a health issue like Crohn’s or stuttering or cystic fibrosis or growth hormones for example. As a journalist it is my responsibility to offer accurate balanced thorough reporting — in fact that is what Mishpacha does best in-depth reporting on issues of great importance to the klal. And so it is that my health features generally involve interviews with a wide spectrum of individuals — individuals with the disease spouses and parents who care for those people doctors nutritionists and more.

I attempt to put a positive spin on all of my writing. Even when I’m writing about a serious medical condition I find individuals who are living productive lives who are managing the hardships and are inspiring role models to those in our community who may be struggling. I try to offer hope and encouragement in my writing whenever possible.