Dear Rachel Week by Week

Recently, I started reconnecting with a lot of friends through a social networking site. At first it was great and exciting to see all of their pictures and find out what is happening with their lives. But the other day my ex-boyfriend tried to "friend" me, and my heart stopped...

My very close friend recently gave birth to her first baby, and has had a really hard time losing the pregancy weight. The problem is that she has started wearing clothes that are too small on her and really make her look terrible. I would love to somehow let her know, but I don't know how to address it...

My husband keeps telling me that Halloween is American tradition and that there is nothing wrong with our six-year-old trick or treating, but something just doesn’t feel right. I think whole holiday is weird and I don’t want my child dressed up as a skeleton and going to strangers' homes? Am I overreacting?

I loaned some money to an acquaintance who was in a really desperate situation. I didn't ask for it back until I knew the situation was better, and then I emailed. I never heard back. I know Judaism teaches that you shouldn't bear a grudge, but don't I have the right to be angry?

We live in a very affluent area, one that is far above our means and economic level. The problem is that our children go to school with these other children, and expect to have the same clothing, gadgets and lifestyle that all of their friends have...

I am the type of person who likes to make the best of everything, but I end up miserable a lot of the time. Because nothing is so terrible, I have a hard time justifying that I should change anything...

My best friend has been dating a guy for a few months now, and she really seems to like him. The problem is that no one else does. Being that in the past year a number of us got married, we are concerned that she is with him just in order to be with someone...

My husband and I are happily married and have two beautiful children. The problem is that I really would like to have a third, and he is very happy with two. I know I should be grateful for what I have but I really want another child...

What do you do when you are in someone else's home where the kids are out of control? We are staying with my sister this summer but her kids are violent, disrespectful and basically, a terrible influence on my children. What can I do?

I am pregnant and thrilled over the news! The problem is that I am struggling with how to break this news to one friend who deserves to hear it from me, in person. This friend had a miscarriage about one year ago. Sadly, only six months later her husband died unexpectedly...

I live next door to a woman whose children are terribly misbehaved and a horrible influence on my children. Worse yet, the parents don't seem to notice or care. Every time my kids see them they ask to play. How many times can I tell my children "no, not today"?

My forty-year-old husband has cancer that is "always deadly" and according to our doctors, there is neither a cure nor hope for any future. While he has battled it for twenty months now and our rabbi always tells us that we should never give up, I do not know where to find the hope...

I am a student rooming in an apartment with another Jewish girl. Though neither of us is religious, I decided that I'd really like to be kosher for Passover this year, but my roommate is up in arms about having to do an intense cleaning...

I am worried about my friend and fear that she is depressed. She has a few kids fairly close in age, and since her second child was born, her whole personality has changed...

I was so excited when my teenage daughter told me she wanted to attend a Purim party. Being that she does not seem so interested in Judaism, I thought this was such a positive step, until I saw what she plans on wearing for her costume...

I have a group of friends that I have been close to since we were in junior high school. Yet now that I am twenty-five, I am finding that we really have different interests and desires in life...

My husband and I have a wonderful relationship and love each other dearly, but there is one issue that we cannot solve. I desperately want children and he doesn't...

My grandson is in a play with his kindergarten class and very much wants me to come. I had been planning on making the trip, but just the other day I found out that my aunt, who is turning ninety, is having a birthday party that day...

I am engaged to be married yet recently reached the conclusion that I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with this man. It is not a case of cold feet, it is a situation where our goals and desires in life are just so different. What should I do?

My children play beautifully together when I am not around. Yet as soon as I enter the scene, the ‘Who is going to win Mommy’s attention?’ game continues in full-swing. Their constant bickering is driving me crazy and is turning their winter break into a nightmare...