Today is the birthday of one woman whom I am blessed to call family, even though she is not a blood relation. I’ve met my (then future) sister-in-law almost 35 years ago, and since then through good times and bad, every day I realize more and more what an exceptional human being she is. She…
Month: March 2018
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Tzav – צַו
Originally posted on Noshing Across the Nation:
This an extremely hard to comment on parshah. צַו Means “command” ו אֵשׁ, תָּמִיד תּוּקַד עַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ–לֹא תִכְבֶּה. 6 Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go out. Listen to the Voice of your Lord! Don’t stroll to the right or to the left! This…
Random Stuff from My Heart
I was ready. SO ready for spring. I saw some buds coming out and hoped for the best. Hoped that this long winter was over. My hopes in vain, I am looking outside dreading the picture I see. Is it because I am such a warm weather person, or am I just missing you as…
Am I still entangled with Mother-Russia?
I wonder if it is coincidental that I have read this book over Shabbat just prior to the 2018 Russian presidential election. I got this book from my favorite book-junkie event of the year – the Jewish Book Council “Raid the Shelves“. Luckily, I work right next door, so I don’t schlep all of them at once,…
Vayikra
This Shabbat, Vayikra, I am again, bringing you some wisdom from the two sources you are no doubt already familiar with. First – from Dr. David Ackerman: “No grain offering that you offer to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for no leavenor honey may be turned into smoke as a gift to the Lord.” (Leviticus 2:11)…
Making my Dad’s Salad Missing Him Crazy
Originally posted on Noshing Across the Nation:
A couple of days ago I was passing by a Russian store and saw white radishes. I bought one for a salad, not knowing that it would bring me to tears. You see, my dad עליו השלום, loved it. He made it himself for the last 20 years at least.…
JOFATHON
I’ve spent this weekend attending a first-ever JOFAthon. What’s that, you ask? It is just a Shabbaton created by the JOFA. I have been interested in this organization that tries to merge orthodoxy and feminism, sometimes to my utmost liking, and sometimes taking the views much to the left of mine. However, the scholarship, the…
Ki Tisa & Purim
Today, for the Parshat Ki Tisa, I am bringing you an interesting D’var from Dr. David Ackerman: “He said, ‘Not a sound shouting strength nor a sound shouting weakness; a sound of distress do I hear!” (Exodus 32:18) Parashat Ki Tisa is an epic disaster. The Israelites, who should be on a spiritual high after the revelation…
Noshing Across the Nation 