Since 1906, the Forward has been answering reader dilemmas about daily life in “A Bintel Brief,” Yiddish for a bundle of letters. Send your queries to [email protected], and listen to a podcast version of our signature advice column.
Bintel Brief
The Latest
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Life An ‘Advice Goddess’ on the Age of Rudeness
Amy Alkon, the witty syndicated advice columnist behind “The Advice Goddess,” thinks rudeness has reached epidemic proportions. Alkon opens her book “I See Rude People” with a description of being subjected to a stranger’s decibel-crushing cell phone conversation. And woe to the person who shouts out his phone number within earshot of Alkon. She’s at…
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Life From a Single Gal (and Her Parents), Advice to Just-Married Friends
I’ve been summoned to give wedding advice. Well, I along with 156 other wedding guests. Two of my friends are marrying each other in Upstate New York. And while they’ve known each other since their Hebrew School days they’ve only begun dating as adults. It’s all very sweet and loving and good. This week they…
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Life I Never Give To Beggars — Am I a Bad Jew?
Dear Bintel Brief, Hardly a day goes by without homeless and less fortunate people begging on the transit system. They ask for money and sometimes food, and I feel sorry for them, but never give to them, or engage at all. I value tzedakah, I volunteer and give to numerous charities, but I’m conflicted about…
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Life My Friends Who Want To Host Me Have Bedbugs!
Dear Bintel Brief, I’m traveling to visit friends who have just discovered that they may be harboring a bedbug infestation in their new home. They have called an exterminator but he hasn’t come yet, so they have no idea what type of problem they’re dealing with. I’ve read that bedbugs cause lots of trouble and…
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Life Help! The Times Square Car Bomb Plot Makes Me Scared To Leave The House
Dear Bintel Brief, With the recent events in Times Square (the foiled car bomb plot) I’m feeling anxious about leaving the house. I know that no one can control for these kinds of things, but do you have any advice about what I can do to calm my nerves? Nervous North of Times Square Steve…
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Life Lab Labor: Who Deserves Credit For My Research Paper?
Dear Bintel Brief, I am a recent college graduate, and have spent the past year working in a research laboratory on a paper that is just about to be published. When I saw the final draft this week, I was shocked to notice that the paper said it was co-written by myself and another young…
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Life Steve Almond Has Some Advice for Forward Readers
Steve Almond is the author the story collections “My Life in Heavy Metal” and “The Evil B.B. Chow,” the novel “Which Brings Me to You” (with Julianna Baggott), and the non-fiction books “Candyfreak” and “(Not That You Asked).” His most recent book, “Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life,” came out in Spring 2010. He…
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Life A Lesson in Finding Your Funny Bone
Dear Bintel Brief, I aspire to be a comedy writer, but I am told that my work is just not funny enough. I have taken classes, watch comedy television and attend improv shows, and I can recite certain “Simpsons” episodes by heart. But something is missing. I know humor can be subtle, and that figuring…
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