I looked up the song, "Could it Be Magic" and found out that the introduction and ending were based on Frederic Chopin's Prelude in C Minor. Manilow had spent an afternoon playing Chopin music, and this piece inspired him to write his song.

For the past few weeks, I have been holding my breath over what may happen to the Jewish state and all its inhabitants, especially during the holidays.

I started to obsess about my weight and looks. My mother always bought me beautiful clothes, and I noticed the thinner I got the more positive attention I received from the people around me. This started me on a lifelong struggle of crazy dieting and becoming more restrictive in my eating.

The idea of slowing down and getting in touch with my feelings was foreign to me. It brought to mind visions of hippies chanting in a room full of crystals, candles, and incense.

I ran into our garage not realizing the cement floor was so slippery. In addition, the slippers I was wearing had completely lost their treads, creating the perfect storm.

Already the death toll has reached 1,200 in Israel. A doctor in Gaza said: “The smell of death is all around.”

Elul is a month of spiritual preparation for the coming Jewish New Year and the Days of Awe (the ten day period from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur) when Jews stand before G-d to recount their sins of the past year.

Most music and piano enthusiasts are drawn to the beauty and emotion of Beethoven’s sonatas. The “Moonlight Sonata” and “Pathétique” are two of his most famous sonatas with contrasting movements and a somewhat high level of technical difficulty.

Mozart composed over six-hundred works full of elegance, beauty, refinement, and grace. His works include operas, symphonies, concertos, and choral music—attesting to his genius.

Exposure to art and music has filled my life with beauty and joy and an intensity that allows me to feel a connection to the Divine.

I wept and wept without knowing why. I then had an epiphany: What I really desired was to have Jewish children, raised to know their rich heritage.

Four days before my surgery, I panicked. I made an appointment with my doctor for him to once again, walk me step by step through the process. Although my husband and I found him professional and capable, I was still apprehensive.

In these uncertain and difficult times, making space for music, whether you play an instrument or not, can transport you to a place of calm, happiness, and peace.

From time immemorial humans have waged war against the darkness. And, Enlightenment materialism has ironically led us to evade nature rather than embrace it.

With a haunting melody that includes descending notes, Prelude in E Minor is one of the most iconic of all time. Expressive and moving, Chopin actually requested that it be played at his funeral.

Seeing first-hand the power of a loving, compassionate end to life, I became intrigued by the practice of hospice care. I learned that the word "hospice" stems from the Latin, "hospitium" which means "hospitality."

This past year I chose to study Kuhlau's Sonatina Opus 55 No. 3 for piano. The music is light and joyful with an almost dancelike quality. And, the piece is full of staccato notes and chord progressions called "runs".

A few days before Mother's Day, this year, my son was exploring the many boxes we've stored in our basement from my parent's Connecticut home. He noticed several boxes that were marked, "Dolls." My excitement mounted as I carefully opened each box and unwrapped the exquisite dolls my mother had so painstakingly selected for me.

While matzah brei (scrambled matzah and eggs) is foundational to Passover breakfast cuisine, Michele Streit Heilbrun, author of Matzo: 35 Recipes for Passover and All Year Long: A Cookbook, has crafted a pancake recipe to rival the best of them.

Matzo (or matzah) brei, a fried egg and matzo scramble, is a Passover breakfast favorite. And, while there are endless variations on this beloved dish, Michelle Streit Heilbrun (heiress to the Streit Matzos empire) outdoes them all with this lox and onion version from her outstanding Matzo: 35 Recipes for Passover and All Year Long: A Cookbook.