Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

Jewish Exponent Blogger

Keep Thanksgiving Happy

As I've been known to do on other holidays, I'm taking a break from your questions to provide general advice about things that might be on your mind as you sit around the Thanksgiving table. I like alliteration, and I like categories, so we're going to focus on family, food and not freaking out.

Personal Drama

Rerun Run-ins

Dear Miriam,

Every time I go to a Jewish event in Philly, I run into guys I've been out with on bad dates. I'm ready to stop going to events because I'm sick of these awkward situations. Is there anything I can do to avoid these people or to make it less awful when I see them?

Social Situation

Engagement Gift

Dear Miriam,

Am I supposed to bring a gift to an engagement party? If so, what? The couple has already registered, but if I get them something from the registry, what do I do for the wedding itself? And doesn't this seem like a lot of gifts for essentially the same occasion?

Signed,
Engagement Gift

Shabbat

Shabbat No-Shows

Dear Miriam,

I host a lot of Shabbat dinners for friends, and for a few recent meals, I've had guests cancel on me at the last minute. I've already made all the food, sometimes even set the table, and then I get an email that for some reason or other they can't make it. A last minute email is better than having people just not show up, which I've also had happen, but I can't imagine ever doing something this rude to a friend who's invited me for dinner. How should I respond when this happens, and is there any way to communicate to people before a meal that when they accept, I really expect them to show up?

Social Situation

Outstanding Outcast

Dear Miriam,

I don't make friends very well. I can laugh at people's jokes, have fun with them, but I am mostly about grades, college, my career, my future, and they're all about cute boys in class, gossiping, slumber parties, water parks, roller coasters, beaches, bikinis, etc. I know I should go out there and be myself, but that never works!!!

Signed,
Outstanding Outcast

Profile

I am extremely proud to be both a member of the Philadelphia young adult Jewish community and a professional working to make the community the best it can be.

My full time job is as the director of Hillel of Greater Philadelphia’s Jewish Graduate Student Network.

My husband, Marc, likes to say that I knew more people within a week of moving to Philadelphia than he knew after six years here.

I’m originally from the tiny town of Fredonia, NY, and sometimes I still stare at the skyscrapers and marvel at how many Jews I know.

I am a co-founder of Minyan Tikvah (a lay-led prayer group in Center City Philadelphia that meets once a month for traditional egalitarian Shabbat services), a founder of and matchmaker for GradMatch.org, a children’s book reviewer, a former elementary school teacher, a pretty decent cook and a mom to an amazing little baby girl.

Contact

miriamjsteinberg@gmail.com

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