Denis Hirson's memoir, "My Thirty-Minute Bar Mitzvah," delves into his complex relationship with his Jewish identity, upbringing in apartheid South Africa, and his father's unexpected political activism.

Maya Arad reminisces about her childhood in Kibbutz Nachal Oz, recalling a prank orchestrated by her daughter's inventive father during a bonfire celebration where he pretended they had ventured into Gaza.

A man recalls a special moment with his father at a hockey game in 1986 where he received a puck from his favorite player, Mike Bossy, as a gift.

The author reflects on her father's ability to evade death multiple times and contemplates the inevitability of losing loved ones as they age.

The text reflects on experiences of antisemitism in Guatemala, highlighting a childhood encounter with a boy who called the author "Israel" in a derogatory manner, reminiscent of Nazi practices of assigning Jewish names.

In "The Secret Quietness," David Dephy explores the fleeting nature of time and the power of memories.

The Family First Inbox for Issue 879 includes a variety of reader responses to articles published in the magazine.

The author reminisces about their love for the Israeli tradition of drinking chocolate milk from a bag known as "shoko besakit."

In this short fiction story, a group of siblings return to the home of their deceased mother to sort through her belongings before the house is sold.

The author reflects on their childhood memories, including their father teaching them physics and the joy they experienced playing with Barbies in their attic.

This text is a personal reflection about the experience of the author's father dying while he was a child.

The author shares their personal experience of growing up in a Jewish family that celebrated Christmas alongside Hanukkah.

The author reflects on the significance of Shabbat dinner in their childhood, which became less important after their father's death.

The writer reflects on a childhood memory of visiting their father in a temporary apartment.

The text reminisces about Don Baylor, a sporty and popular man from the 1970s who had a close relationship with the author's family.

In Isaac Babel's short story "Awakening," the narrator describes growing up in Odessa, a city obsessed with creating musical prodigies.

The author reflects on their challenging relationship with their Israeli mother, longing for a more conventional and gentle maternal figure.

The text describes the author's experiences and reflections on Yom Kippur in various settings, from a synagogue in Jerusalem to a small gathering in a suburban neighborhood.

The author, a convert to Judaism, reflects on giving up Christmas and embracing Hanukkah instead.