Special Formula

On a simple level, one assumes that the prohibition of eating the gid hanasheh, the sciatic nerve, commemorates Yaakov’s injury.

Yet Rav Tzaddok HaKohein  of Lublin (Tzidkas Hatzaddik) takes this further, establishing a tenet for life: Everything that affects a person in his life has a spiritual impact as well. The prohibition against eating the gid hanasheh therefore isn’t there simply to help us remember Yaakov; it’s because there’s something inherent within it that’s harmful to Klal Yisrael. (Rav Yisroel Reisman, Shiurim al Chumash)

Flying with kids is always an ordeal. (Contrary to passengers’ opinions, it hurts the parents most of all.) Years ago, I was expecting my third child and flying by myself with two little ones. (What was I thinking?)

I boarded the plane full of blind optimism and bags of goodies. An hour later, I was a frazzled mess. We were crammed into two seats, my oldest enjoying her own, while my toddler teetered precariously on my late-stage pregnancy lap. Neither child was inclined to sleep or enjoy the many treats and games I’d packed. I finally stuffed all our paraphernalia under the seat in front of me and resigned myself to ten more hours of happily-ever-after storytelling. I prayed my trip would end similarly.