Originally posted on joe wolfson:
There is currently a state of emergency in New York with a snow blizzard keeping everyone in doors. So here are three shiurim on Parshat Shemot to help you all pass the time learning Torah. 1. Introducing Shemot – What’s In A Name – An introd uction to the book of…
Author: Blogging Across the Nation
Poetry and Baking – a Perfect Blend
December 26, in memory of my late husband, who loved poetry and was the first to introduce me, an ordinary Soviet school girl to the names of Severyanin, Mandelshtam, Balmont, Galich, and many others, I hosted a poetry evening at my house. We were fortunate to have a reading evening with Yehoshua November, who represents quite an…
You & Me
I’ve been trying hard. Trying to bury my head in work, in good and bad things happening in the family and around us in the outer world, trying to tell myself that twenty years should be enough to stop hurting. It should be, indeed. And yet … These ten days between the two calendars, Jewish and secular,…
My Hanukah – not again!
Hag Chanukah Sameach! Why is it that Kislev is sending me into a whirlpool of tears again? There is nothing harder in life than to see your closest people suffering knowing that you can’t really help. All you can do is pray. And pray I do. This time, I really do need a miracle! I am…
Vayeishev – וישב
As usual, I am bringing you a couple of commentaries on this week’s Parshah that I like: Dr. Ackerman brings a very unusual commentary: “About that time Judah left his brothers and camped near a certain Adullamite whose name was Chira.” (Genesis 38:1) Parashat Vayeshev introduces the Joseph saga. Joseph infuriates his brothers with his arrogance…
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberry Butter
So, I have decided to put some recipes here that are really dear to me as they are easy, healthy and work really great for Shabbat. The pictures for this post are made by a talented friend of mine, Lel. Brussels sprouts are such a versatile vegetable! You can have it in a salad, in…
From Bread to Bed
This is our life. One can never definitely say what is going to happen tomorrow. Remember from Bulgakov: “для того, чтобы управлять, нужно, как-никак, иметь точный план на некоторый, хоть сколько-нибудь приличный срок. ” (in order to manage, you need, after all, to have an exact plan for some, at least some decent time.) ?…
Vayishlach וישלח
This Shabbat, again, I am bringing you two of the commentaries that I enjoy: “Jacob set up a monument over her grave; it is the monument of Rachel’s grave until today.” (Genesis 35:20) Parashat Vayishlach describes Jacob’s return home to Canaan and his encounter with his estranged brother, Esau, twenty years after their falling out. There’s…
Vayeitzei וַיֵּצֵא יַעֲקֹב, מִבְּאֵר שָׁבַע; וַיֵּלֶךְ, חָרָנָה
Today, again I am bringing you the D’var on Parshat Vayeitei from my colleague, Dr. Ackerman: “Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.” (Genesis 28:18) Parashat Vayeitzei describes Jacob’s…
Back to Baking
I haven’t been writing about food, lately. With the holidays approaching, however, I have to pick up some speed, I think. It is my mother’s 85th birthday tomorrow! Of course, I am baking my lekach for her, as she likes it a lot. My mother is like our family lekach – strong and not pretentious…
Toldot – וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת – And These Are the Generations
Today, was Rosh Hodesh Kislev. Traditionally, Rosh Hodesh is considered a time for celebrations of some kind with added prayers and parties for Jewish women. Lately, my shul started to be adherent to this tradition, and even started its own – women from the community are asked to speak about themselves, their experiences or particularly important…
Meeting the Giants – Taste of Limmud NY
I know I must be nuts. I work in the city, live in Brooklyn and pay money to go to learn until 10pm on a weeknight. But, how could I miss The taste of Limmud? So, here I was, sitting in the chapel of the Hebrew Union College, an institution which religious outlook is super…
Noshing Across the Nation 