Los Angeles Leadership Fundraiser 

stressed-momWhen it comes to family dynamics, PUAH is known for educating and raising awareness all around the world.

On Monday evening, August 13, 2012, a group of LA young married women attended an elegant "Dessert Reception" at the lovely home of Tzipporah & Jonathan Coronel. After enjoying fruit refreshments and schmoozing a bit, the women were ready to hear PUAH's speakers: Rabbi Gideon Weitzman, director of PUAH's Jerusalem headquarters, and Lea Davidson, Executive Director of American Friends of PUAH Institute.

In her opening remarks to this most enthusiastic group, Lea Davison highlighted the importance of young people – specifically newly married, reaching out to help others less fortunate. She compared this pursuit to the initiative taken by Batya, Pharaoh's daughter, who reached out and rescued baby Moses out of the reeds of the river. Rashi, the great biblical commentator, elucidates that although the distance of Moshe's tiny "flotation device" was perhaps further than her arm length, the princess was miraculously able to draw the baby out.

 

 

Focusing on this well-known story, Lea observed that when we extend ourselves even further than our reach, our grasp can eventually create a very vital act kindness. Applying this message, she told the guests that their status as married women with families and a community of their own enables them to seize and receive the torch from their elders and continue a legacy that their parents and grandparents began.

For Jewish wives and mothers, the torch is kept aflame by Giving Tzedaka – charity, thereby helping people in need. For example, when young women/couples attend a wedding, a brit milah, a bar/bat mitzvah or any other celebration, they can fulfill a grand deed by becoming ambassadors of good will disseminating PUAH's mission as a passionate, personal message.

With as many as one in six couples experiencing fertility challenges, what can be better than talking about PUAH and the services which it provides, services with potential to help someone in their midst?

 

Lea invited her audience to become caring ambassadors and giving of themselves to help other community members to overcome a painful life hurdle.

 

Carrying this message to a different level, Rabbi Gideon Weitzman offered valuable insights about stress free motherhood.  In his address, entitled “It Doesn't Have to be Kids and Chaos,” Rabbi Weitzman advised mothers about ways of enriching their own lives. He observed that oftentimes parents experience stress because they have undue expectations of their children.

 

Describing everyday normal family scenarios that cause both parents and their kids stress such as: dinner time, preparing for bed time, homework, prolonged Shabbat and holiday meals, and getting dressed for school, he offered helpful hints about reframing one's expectations in order to alleviate repeated and uncomfortable personal anxiety.

 

As Rabbi Weitzman spoke, heads were nodding and smiles were abounding amongst the women in the audience. He honed in to a tee on typical anecdotes of every mother's daily experiences and concerns and offered excellent solutions to their apprehensions.