When I travelled to Syria for the first time over ten years ago, I was sure that I would return soon and often. Now, some of the people I met and the places I admired don’t exist anymore. And so I choose to remember Syria just how I found it: complicated yet beautiful, warm and hospitable.

We only know how much certain people contributed to our lives when they are gone. In this weeks issue our columnist Hadassa Haack writes a loving tribute to her parents’ parents and also dedicates her article to those who take on their role.

It does not have to be the trip around the world or roughing it in foreign countries to fulfil a longing for adventure. 

Writing something remotely useful about procrastination should come easy to me – I practice it daily. Three hours after I sat down to do so the page is still blank. However, I now have confirmation from several sources that procrastinators are anything but lazy as they are busy doing many things while avoiding others. 

What if home is not where we were raised but on the other side of the planet? What makes us connect with some places and not with others? Our columnist Hadassa Haack searches for this very particular feeling of belonging.

Big changes can be a challenge but also tremendous potential for growth - how can we move through them with success and stay sane in the process?