viewpoints » S end letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com
Ask Attorney
Ken Gross
about…
for openers
Plagues And Punishments
A
few weeks ago, my friend said
There’s a saying: “I used to be a good
she witnessed her Darling
parent, but then I had kids.” The thing that
Child A hit her Darling Child B. really throws us off is that children just
Every motherly instinct scream-
aren’t as angelic as they’re sup-
ing in indignation, Mother
posed to be. Nobody is, of course,
Dearest jumped to her feet,
parents included, but it’s still a bit
with arm outstretched, roaring,
of a disappointment. And now
“You don’t hit! I’ll teach you
and again we have to come up
not to hit!” (Y’know, ’cause the
with an appropriate consequence
best way to teach something is
that preferably fits the crime —
to totally do it yourself, which
and that can take some creativity.
kind of explains why the Little
Ever seen the Daddy-sized “get-
Rochel Burstyn along T-shirt” that two squabbling
Darling was hitting in the first
place.) Mother Dearest high-
siblings are forced to wear? Fear
tailed it after Darling Child A, who spun sometimes works: One set of parents told
on her devilish little heel and took off.
their nose-picking daughter that boogers
Unfortunately for Mother Dearest, the are actually brain cells. There are time-outs
cleaning lady had departed just an hour for kids, time-outs for parents, revoking
before, leaving behind a sparkling tidy
privileges or anything in between. My new-
house, including dangerously squeaky-
est, most-effective threat is to tell a child in
clean floor and, as Mother Dearest
mid-tantrum: “Anything you say or do may
rounded the table, she skidded, feet
or may not be written about and printed in
pedaling desperately in the air and then the Jewish News.”
landed with an undignified bang on her
If we want inspiration for original pun-
bottom and a crunch on her back.
ishments, we need look no further than the
In an unprecedented display of unity, her Pesach story. The Jews had been subjected
Little Darlings crowded around her, staring, to back-breaking slavery in Egypt for many
half in horror, half in amazed delight, all
years so God sent Moses to Pharaoh with a
punishment forgotten. Which just goes to
message to let the Jews go. Despite numer-
show: It’s not always good to have a clean
ous warnings, Pharaoh refused. (He didn’t
house; large, soft bottoms can be quite use- realize what could happen, or if he did, he
ful in a crash-landing situation; and even if was in de Nile.) No time-outs, God came
it seems hopeless, siblings might one day
up with the most creative punishments
find things in common.
ever: The 10 plagues.
At the
Pesach seder,
we com-
memorate the
miracles of
Exodus. While
remembering
the plagues,
we take a
moment to
spill out some
wine from
our cups to
symbolize that
God does not take pleasure from punishing
His creations, deserved or not. Parents can
understand that — it’s a bitter herb to swal-
low when two of your offspring don’t get
along; they’re both yours, it doesn’t matter
who’s right. (The year-round four ques-
tions: Who started it? Why? What did you
do to him first? And why can’t you just get
along!?)
While we’re not going to smite anyone
or do anything involving blood, frogs
or lice (unless you want to freak out a
teenage girl, and then all you have to do
is mention the word!), it can be hard to
find the right balance when thinking up
appropriate consequences.
The good news: Sibling rivalry, like
matzah, too, shall pass. Probably not
today, but eventually.
Have a wonderful Pesach.
*
letters
Women’s Foundation
Aids Family Service
Thank you so much for publishing the
recent guest column “Seeking Harmony
In The Home” (March 31, page 8) about
the new 100 Mensches campaign at Jewish
Family Service and its essay contest to raise
awareness about domestic abuse in our
community.
In this piece we neglected to write that
all of Jewish Family Service’s efforts at rais-
ing awareness about and ending domestic
abuse in the Jewish community (JCADA,
100 Mensches, etc.) are supported through
the generosity of the Jewish Women’s
Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit.
While funding of course is key, true
partnership is better, and JWF has done
nothing short of being an exemplary part-
ner in every way. So, thanks to our part-
ners at JWF for its support of JCADA/100
Mensches, JFS’ Legal Referral Service and
all of the other programs it has funded at
JFS, in our community and abroad.
Don Rochlen, president, board of directors
Perry Ohren, CEO
Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit
West Bloomfield
continued on page 8
Your
Your
Legal
Financial
Issues
Issues
IT IS TIME TO ACT!
Can you solve my
tax problem?
Yes, I can. Tax problems are
stressful – they cause loss of
sleep and enormous pressure.
The biggest mistake people
make is ignoring them. There
are good solutions available, at reasonable
cost, to release levies and often settle the
debt. Unlike may fi rms recently claiming
to handle tax problems, THAV GROSS has
been solving tax problems for individuals
and businesses in the area for 33 years.
If your bank account has been levied or
wages garnished, the fi rst step we do is
contact the IRS or the State and work
to get your money released. If you have
unfi led tax returns, we will help you get
the returns fi led. If unpaid taxes are the
issue, we will analyze the years and dates
to determine if the statute of limitation has
or is about to run. Income taxes are also
sometimes dischargeable in bankruptcy –
so we also examine that option to eliminate
the tax. For both income and payroll
tax liabilities – an Offer in Compromise
with IRS and and now with the State is a
possible way to settle the tax for pennies
on the dollar. The important point here – is
that there are options and avenues to solve
the problem. You should call us today – for
a FREE CONSULTATION. Happy Pesach!
THAV GROSS has been solving
its clients’ business, tax and fi nancial
problems since 1982. Be sure to tune
in to the new Law and Reality –
Saturday mornings to 10 AM on
WDFN 1130 AM Radio and Sunday’s
at 11 AM on TV20.
thavgross.com lawandreality.com
30150 Telegraph, Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025
April 14 • 2016
5