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MAY 2022 // IYAR 5782 // ISSUE 76

THE HEALTH MAGAZINE FOR THE JEWISH FAMILY

Spring Has Sprung 8 My Table contributors share the dish that encapsulates this season for them

MAY 2022

/ IYAR 5782

/ ISSUE

Culinary Toolbox

Tastes ofg Sprin ITE YOUR FAVOR N? WHAT'S THE SEASO FOOD OF

THE KIDDUSH cake Have your too and eat it MAGIC VITAMIX for The secret soup perfect corn

EAT THE

TO W WHERE RAINBO

FIND EVERY

COLOR

With the Vitamix, you can make the silkiest corn soup ever—in 8 minutes

Since Har Sinai

Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein zt”l left a legacy for Torahguided emotional healing Beautiful Inside and Out Wellness coach Miriam Carr helps every woman feel this way

The Kiddush

Finally, a good-for-you cheesecake that tastes amazing—and streuseltopped cheese muffins too

Tears of Joy

Would I ever be able to see again?

Gone Since I Had COVID

Tips on restoring the senses of smell and taste

Crank Up the Temp Do heated workouts yield better results?

Ask the Nutritionist

The scale isn’t budging

Libby in the Lab

Which alternative treatment works best to alleviate headaches? US $9.99 // CALIFORNIA $7.50 CANADA $8.99 // UK £5.50 EUROPE €6.50 // ISRAEL ₪24.9

FYI: Hair Loss

Heart.Works

E K OW N

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COPY & RESEARCH

Editor In Chief Shiffy Friedman Deputy Editor Libby Silberman Nutritional Advisory Board Dr. Rachael Schindler Laura Shammah, MS, RDN Tamar Feldman, RDN, CDE Bashy Halberstam, INHC Shaindy Oberlander, INHC Shira Savit, MA, MHC, CHC Esti Asher, MS, RDN, LD Nutrition Contributors Tanya Rosen, MS CAI CPT Shani Taub, CDC

Health Advisory Board Dr. Chayala Englard Chaya Tilla Brachfeld, RN Fitness Advisory Board Syma Kranz, PFC Esther Fried, PFC Child Development Advisory Board Friedy Singer, OTR/L Roizy Guttmann, OTR/L Coordinating Editor Liba Solomon, CNWC Feature Editors Rochel Gordon • Rikki Samson

$99.00

Proofreaders Faige Badian • Meira Lawrence

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FOOD CONTENT Food Editor Esther Frenkel Recipes Yossi & Malky Levine Charnie Kohn Elky Friedman Styling & Photography Malky Levine Charnie Kohn Pessi Piller ART & PRODUCTION Cover Design Aryeh Epstein Designer Rivky Schwartz Digital Media Rivkah Shanowitz ADVERTISING Executive Account Manager Goldy Kolman 718-412-3309 Ext.2 ads@wellspringmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTION 718-437-0761 subscribe@wellspringmagazine.com DISTRIBUTION Weekly Publications INC. 347-782-5588

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The Wellspring Magazine is published monthly by Wellspring Magazine Inc. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part or in any form without prior written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher reserves the right to edit all articles for clarity, space and editorial sensitivities. The Wellspring Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content or kashrus of advertisements in the publication, nor for the content of books that are referred to or excerpted herein. The contents of The Wellspring Magazine, such as text, graphics and other material (content) are intended for educational purposes only. The content is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health care provider with any questions you have regarding your medical condition.

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WELLSPRING / IYAR 5782

EDITOR'S NOTE

Upward and Downward

fter reviewing this issue’s installment of Compass, I came away with a heightened sense of admiration for Dina, who’s courageously been sharing her experiences as a mother of a child with autism. Just awe-inspiring. Not only for Dina, but for all mothers whose lives have taken a turn off the road of “expected;”: the ones who’ve found themselves in frighteningly unknown territory, seeking that compass to guide them toward some semblance of normalcy. Along with all the technical challenges that come along with raising a child on the spectrum, as Dina relates, the emotional factor can weigh heavily on the heart as well. In this issue’s installment, she recalls her first time back in the park after the family’s rigorous stint at Mifne, followed by their intense period confined at home implementing the treatments they’d learned. Sitting on the bench, she watches the parents of “typical” children all around her, making typical parenting mistakes while chatting lightly and taking it easy, at least to her eyes.

us spiritually, we’re at risk of falling into a rut of complacency, of “I’ve come this far, I don’t have to stretch myself further.” In the same vein, when we focus on those who have more than us physically, our growth and happiness are at risk as well. We suddenly notice all the assets and luxuries we’re lacking, everything we wish we had. Thus, the prescription is as follows: upward for inspiration, downward for appreciation. As this issue’s Wellbeing feature highlights, it’s the Torah that provides us with clear direction for emotional wellbeing, and this prescription is just one such example. With my newborn son in my arms while reading Dina’s diary entry, I marveled at the miracle of joy and health I was holding, and my appreciation was accentuated tenfold. Especially when the typical new-baby challenges seem overwhelming, getting a glimpse of others’ struggles offers a jolting shift in perspective, filling us with a surge of gratitude and renewed energy.

“Here I was,” she recounts, “investing my all, giving Lana loads of attention, forgoing my penchant for cleanliness by allowing her to eat with her hands to help her develop…and still, my child was autistic and delayed in every single way. Nothing made sense.”

As I read these lines, tears blurred my vision. I was reminded of a vort I heard years ago that I’ve referred back to time and again. In Aleinu, we say the words from Devarim (4:39), “Bashamayim mima’al ve’al ha’aretz mitachas.” Know today that Hashem is the G-d in the heavens above and on the earth below. The recipe for growth and happiness, the vort goes, is to look to those “above” us to be inspired spiritually—those who’ve already reached greater heights in their avodas Hashem—and to look to those “below,” those less blessed than us in the physical realm, in order to appreciate what we have. Looking at it vice versa is counterproductive. When we look at those who have “less” than

In her most recent email, she wrote, “People keep asking how I’m doing in this hard tekufah of Lag B’omer. Honestly, considering [the circumstances], I think we’re doing BH well. Not to say that I don’t have my tearful moments, or that seeing the marshmallows at [the] checkout doesn’t send me into another world. That place of before.

WELLSPRING / MAY 2022

ne of my sources of inspiration when I look up-up-upward is Michal Reit of Ramat Beit Shemesh, the mother of the bachur Yosef Ezriel ben Chaya Michal le’refuah sheleimah, who is still in a comatose state since the Meron tragedy. As I’ve already written in this space, Michal is a fount of inspiration, of steadfast emunah and bitachon, as she goes through this excruciating nisayon. We’re privileged to catch some droplets of that fountain when she sends out an email message every few weeks or so, updating those who’ve been davening for her young son’s recovery and having him and the family in mind in their tefillos.

“It’s the closing of a year of ‘Last year this time, Yossi was…,’ and ‘Last year this time we had no idea,’ and ‘Last year this time we took so many things for granted,’ and ‘Last year this time I hadn’t met so many wonderful, special people who care…’ “So many people have asked me how we stay positive, and how we have such strong emunah and bitachon. Lol, I’ve been asked ‘Have you always been like this?!’ Um…nope. Never really had to be…” For the Reits, “last year this time” has become symbolic of the life they once knew, the life they miss, the life of “normalcy” and routine. Still, even in their hardest moments, their emunah is mind-boggling. “Yes, there is pain,” Michal writes. “A lot. There is sadness. There is wishing it was all a bad dream. And of course there is davening and pleading to change things. But there is no anger, there is no questioning, and there certainly is no demanding to know whose fault it is or expecting someone to be punished for what happened…”

lways ending off on a positive note, Michal concludes, “Your tefillos mean so much to us, more than anything. As long as we know that Yossi is still being davened for, we can go through every day knowing that Hashem’s answer can still become a “yes!”

May all of us be inspired to count our blessings, and find joy in the routine season ahead.

n a m d e i r F y f Shif

WELL- PUT “We’re used to functioning. Yet, for the sake of ourselves and our loved ones, we must also choose to thrive.”

Miriam Carr, Cup of Tea WELLSPRING / IYAR 5782

CONTENTS

MAY 2022 IYAR 5782 ISSUE 76 Our next issue will appear on Wednesday June 15th iy"H.

WELL INFORMED 10

Springboard

Spiritual Eating

Torah Wellspring

Health Updates

LIVING WELL

FYI

Community

40 OT@Home 42

Fitness

Ask

TEARS OF JOY

Cup of Tea

Medical Saga

As Told To Roizy Baum

The Functional Dietitian

I was absent-mindedly sorting through a pile of mail in the communal lobby of my apartment building, checking for envelopes that had my name, when it suddenly hit me: The letters were so blurred I couldn’t discern to whom the envelopes were addressed.

Compass

DIY

WELLBEING 78

Emotional Eating

FAREWELL

SEASONED 8

WELLSPRING / MAY 2022

115 Random

Dietitians Debate and Inner Parenting will return next month iy"H.

80 SINCE HAR SINAI Wellbeing Feature By Shiffy Friedman Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein zt”l left a legacy for Torah-guided emotional healing Here, we explore three themes regarding wellbeing and relationships that permeated his lectures, his life, and his being.

EXPERIMENT: ALLEVIATING HEADACHES Sample By Libby Silberman While painkillers treat the symptom and numb the pain, treating the root cause of the headache goes a long way. And that’s what we’ll be exploring today. This month, our lab samples consist of thirty-six frequent headache sufferers. Thirty-six brave individuals are determined to stop using painkillers and get rid of their headaches.

LIGHT BERRY CHEESECAKE The Kiddush By Malky and Yossi Levine Time for a healthier cheesecake! We’re changing a few ingredients to lighten up this classic dessert for all cheesecake lovers out there. The berry compote topping adds a delicious fruity flavor and enhances the beauty of the cake.

WELLSPRING / IYAR 5782

SPRINGBOARD

On Acid Reflux, Parenting, Sprouting and More

Joining the Lab

Close to My Heart

Thank you for such an incredible Pesach issue. The parenting panel was exceptional, and I’ve clipped it for future reference.

First, a huge shout-out to you for an incredible publication and an outstanding Pesach issue. I’m awed every time to see how you manage to collect such thought-provoking content and present it in such an appealing manner.

Issue #75: Sample

Additionally, I wanted to thank Libby Silberman for her amazing Samples each month. They’re funny, informative, and simply enjoyable to read. Is she accepting trial participants for future experiments? I’d love to join the lab. Much continued hatzlachah, Hindy, Brooklyn 10

WELLSPRING / MAY 2022

Issue #75: Parenting Panel

I found the parenting panel to be especially profound. Of course, as I’ve done with every mental health panel you’ve featured, I clipped it and hope to incorporate the countless pearls of wisdom within those pages. From each panelist, I came away with such direction and

insight regarding a subject that’s so close to my heart, as I’m sure it is for every parent. This is also the time to thank you for the insightful Inner Parenting column by Rabbi Ezra Friedman. It was only once I became a parent—and I’m learning more every day—that I realized how parenting is all about digging deeper inside ourselves. After reading every one of these articles, and then noticing how relevant they are to my parenting, I am able to engage in the work with more and more clarity. A tremendous yasher koach, L. M.

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WELLSPRING / IYAR 5782

Quick Question

SPRINGBOARD

Question: I’d love if you can list the most important vitamins or supplements you’d recommend every woman to take. With so many products to choose from, one can get lost (and broke) when they walk into a health food store these days… Thank you, M.K.

Answer: You’re right about the incredible selection and variety of vitamins and supplements that have become available to us. Since you didn’t specify what stage you’re at, here’s the general answer I give most women. (You can easily remember it through the acronym CBD, Clearly the Best Dietary supplement.) Vitamin C is vital for immune support and strength (I recommend pure C bio for under age 40); vitamin D is important for bone health, cell growth, and to absorb calcium; and vitamin B boosts energy and helps relieve stress, among other benefits. If you have any specific deficiency (e.g., iron) or a particular issue (e.g., with digestion, skin, or pain), you may need to take additional supplements to feel better. Wishing you a healthy summer! Take care, Miriam Schweid, health consultant and kinesiologist

Borscht for Baby Issue #75: Quick Question

Fermented borscht is incredibly healing for acid reflux. I give my babies one teaspoon and it nips it in the bud. It really bothers me to see babies suffering when a teaspoon of borsht can be so helpful. Baila Vorhand

I’m trying to experiment with making my own alfalfa sprouts. Have you ever done this? So far it seems to be failing and is producing what seems to be mold instead of sprouts! R. W. Libby Silberman responds:

Issue #70: Sample

Dear Libby, 12

WELLSPRING / MAY 2022

I’ve experienced moldy “crop” whenever my seeds were too wet, so you may want to try giving your alfalfa some more air. Happy sprouting!

Dear R. W., So disappointing to have your hard work go moldy!

Sprouting Alfalfa at Home

sources such as sproutpeople.org, gardenerspath.com, or sprout.com (there are hundreds of sprouting sites and blogs—try a few to find the one that talks to you).

You’re awesome for trying, but honestly, I’ve never sprouted alfalfa as it’s readily available in any supermarket and so cheap. If try

you specifically want to sprouting it, check online

Not at Face Value Issue #75: Sample

I am thoroughly enjoying Libby Silberman’s Sample column, especially those targeting methods of

The Page-Turners You Have Come to Expect by FAYGE GOLDSTEIN & CHAYA S. NEWMAN An engaging collection of relatable stories about Hashem’s kindnesses and breathtaking hashgachah pratis.

by L. PATZ Good (clean) fun for the whole family, this book will hold your attention from cover to cover.

by RABBI YERED M. VIDERS

by RIVKA FISHMAN

A refreshing and uplifting perspective on life—one that is filled with purpose and positivity, with gratitude, fulfillment, and simchas

“This is a welcome addition to the bibliotherapy list. It is recommended for ages 5 to 8 and also works well as a read-aloud both in and out of a classroom.”

ha’chaim.

Jewish Book Council BACK IN STOCK!

by RABBI GIDON ROTHSTEIN An analysis of themes that recurrently engaged Torah scholars from the 16th century to the present day.

by SARAH SHAPIRO A fabulous read—reflections on life, love, childhood, parenting, aging, infirmity, relationships, and more.

VISIT US ONLINE AT MOSAICAPRESS.COM Mosaica Press books are available for purchase at MosaicaPress.com and your local Jewish bookshop. WELLSPRING / IYAR 5782

The Doctor Is In

SPRINGBOARD

Question: My two-year-old son has lately become a really picky eater. He used to eat so well, but for the last few months he’s been refusing everything we give him. We try offering treats, distractions, and even toys at the table just to get him to eat a few forkfuls. He refuses it all and will only eat plain noodles, bread, or gefilte fish. What can I do to get him more interested in food?

Answer: Toddlers often go through a phase of picky eating as part of their development. They’re learning to say no and express their preferences for the first time. It is not unusual for them to eat only one or two things for weeks at a time. Often, they’ll eat well at breakfast and refuse any food for the rest of the day. It’s also common for toddlers’ tastes and preferences to change readily from one day to the next. Your twoyear-old can go weeks loving strawberries and then suddenly throw a tantrum at the mere suggestion of strawberries for snack. This is a normal part of toddlers’ emotional development. The most important thing is to continue to offer healthy foods even if your child consistently declines them.

distractions to encourage them to eat.

That said, there are definitely things you can do to make mealtimes less stressful for everyone.

That means avoiding the following:

• Choose what goes on the plate, but let your child choose the quantity that gets eaten.

• Whole hot dogs

• Avoid making special meals for your child and encourage them to eat whatever the rest of the family is having.

• Raw cherries with pits

• If they refuse, offer a piece of fruit; otherwise, the meal is over. Kids will generally not starve themselves and will eat when they are hungry. This may take some time; however, the key is consistency. • Meals should be a relaxing time shared with other family members. • Kids should not be punished for refusing to eat, and they should not be bribed with sweets, toys, or

Some things to keep in mind when offering food: • Offer the same foods the rest of the family is eating with the appropriate modifications to size, amount, and texture. • Meals should have a balance of vegetables, protein, whole grains, and fruits. • Avoid finger foods that could cause choking. Children don’t fully develop the grinding motion involved in chewing until they’re about four years old, so stick with foods that are small and easy to chew, and avoid those that might be swallowed whole and get stuck in a toddler’s windpipe. • Raw carrots • Raw celery • Whole grapes • Round, hard candy • Nuts • Popcorn Remember, picky eating is a normal part of child development and can be a rite of passage. Consistency and patience will pay off as your little one develops a refined and adventurous palate. Hatzlachah! Jennifer Berkovich, DO, FAAP Member, JOWMA preventative health committee

alternative healing. I am wondering, though, how reliable these experiments are when testing such a small cross section of people. One cannot conclusively say, for example, that craniosacral therapy isn’t 14

WELLSPRING / MAY 2022

effective for building one’s immune system just because one participant displayed no improvement. So, while the articles are fantastic, I’d recommend that readers not take the results reported at face

value. Personally, I’ve experienced tremendous success with craniosacral therapy for a huge range of issues, including chronic headaches and mild anxiety/stress. I have also enjoyed the new OT at

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Question:

My daughter wants to cook with me, but things are so hectic around dinnertime. How can I start cooking with her in a way that works for us?

Answer: Cooking together with your child is a wonderful activity for several reasons. You spend time together, creating bonds over beloved family recipes—or chicken nuggets. It helps kids explore different foods and take pride in their work. And it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some ways to help make it more doable: • You never have to. While cooking together is great, if it happens at a hectic time, it won’t go well for anyone. • Cooking is an activity, like going swimming or kicking around a ball. Thinking of cooking with your kids as food prep is going to put you on the wrong foot. Rather, choose to do it at a time that works for you. • Make sure nobody is hungry. Give your kids a snack before cooking so everyone starts out in a good mood! • Cooking doesn’t have to be literal “cooking.” It can be assembling—like a salad from individual ingredients or even just a bag of frozen veggies dumped into a bowl and stirred. It doesn’t even have to happen at the counter. You can create a great setup for kids on the kitchen floor. This reduces the risk of falling as well as keeping the mess under control. This is for fun, so make sure it’s fun for everyone. And if it’s not working out, change direction. Yaffi Lvova, RDN

Yaffi Lvova, RDN, is a dietitian and food enjoyment activist who encourages positive nutrition through writing, speaking, and Nap Time Nutrition, her video blog and podcast. Find out more at babybloomnutrition.com.

WELLSPRING / MAY 2022

Nutrition Nugget

SPRINGBOARD

Home column by Miriam Frankel, and I’m looking forward to more. Tilla Mendlovic, Spring Valley

First Vet the Therapist Although I enjoy reading your magazine, I’m not the type to write letters and I’d never have thought I’d find myself in this position. But, as they say, life has its twists and turns and I feel it’s important to share a personal painful experience with your esteemed readers and possibly help them avoid the pain I am currently going through. I consider myself to be a typical frum mother. I’d be the first to admit that my husband and I are not perfect. Our home is built on “old world” values and attitudes that we absorbed and may need to be adjusted to our emotionally sensitive generation. Nonetheless, our home provides a stable and calm base for a healthy and happy upbringing. As in any family, children can at times feel not fully validated, but there didn’t seem to be any serious hiccups in what was an essentially nurturing parent-child relationship. That was until I introduced my daughter to a frum healer/trauma therapist who I thought would provide her with the modalities to develop a more positive life attitude.

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Set a strong foundation now. Your child will thank you forever.

Set your child up for success. Every child has unique interests that should be used as a platform to motivate learning. At Eis Laasois, every moment is a learning moment and every incident an opportunity for growth. • DIR/FloorTime Modality • Group Learning

• Holistic Collaboration • Experienced Staff

We invite you to come over and see our state-of-the-art facilities. A visit to Eis Laasois will be all you need to make the decision.

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WELLSPRING / IYAR 5782