On Pesach Sheini, a day of second chances, Edan Alexander—an American-born Golani soldier held hostage since October 7—was finally freed. But his release raises painful questions: why Edan, why now, and what does it mean for the countless others who are still waiting to come home?

As tuition bills, tax deadlines, and Pesach receipts collide, thousands of Jewish Angelenos are left asking the same question: Do I have the faith to cut the check? This week's cover story explores the quiet spiritual struggle behind our community’s financial reality—and what it means to trust Hashem when the numbers just don’t add up.

In the chaos of family life, a woman embodies both the nurturing Mother and radiant Queen, roles often overlooked. Men can lead by helping her transition from managing to receiving—making tea, watching kids, or offering admiration—while she learns to let go. Rooted in the Torah’s Shabbos rest, this balance honors her duality, freeing her true self and crowning him as a king.

Yehudah Kamman highlights that many couples struggle despite deep love due to speaking different love languages—his rooted in provision and purpose, hers in connection and emotion. Learning each other's language through curiosity and humility, like Hashem teaching the Israelites in the desert, transforms relationships into a sacred, fluent connection, urging intentional acts like a hug over a fixed faucet.

In a marriage where a wife feels unsafe and takes control, and a husband withdraws feeling useless, the key to restoration lies in understanding their differing fires, his driven by competence, hers by security. By appreciating his efforts and leading with strength, couples can break this cycle, transforming their relationship into a harmonious dance, much like the Israelites’ journey from slavery to the Promised Land.