Noshing Across the Nation

Children, Israel, Food, Torah – things I love and talk about often!

Author: Blogging Across the Nation

  • Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Beresheet

    Originally posted on Noshing Across the Nation: I have decided to try writing a few lines about each parsha – פָּרָשָׁה.  I guess, we shall see where it takes me. Of course, I am not making any promises – so bli neder. Again, this is not poetry, just words coming out to offer my view on things.…

  • Women’s Simchat Torah

    Simchat Torah in my shul is pretty happy with lots of dancing on the ground floor, and lots of women watching from above. Normally, this arrangement is fine with me. I, actually like to be on the second floor, where on a regular Shabbat we don’t have many women, and I can see and hear…

  • וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה – And this is the Blessing

    We are approaching the end of the Autumn Holy Days, the last two parashot in the Torah before starting anew with “In the Beginning”. This week is the final blessing Moshe gives to the nation, the “stiff-necked people” he had to deal with for over 40 years. He has the strength and the desire to…

  • Parshat ha Shavuah Verses Ha’azinu / האזינו

    Originally posted on Noshing Across the Nation: This one is a short work week, and with all the holiday cooking and prepping, I do not see a chance for me to write any thoughtful d’var Torah. I have decided to leave you with the words of my colleague, Dr. Ackerman, again, as I don’t think I…

  • Of Life and Death

    Any Holiday Shabbat is hard for me. Shabbat during Yamim Noraim is harder. This is the time when I think of my life many years ago, the mistakes I made, the wrong decisions, and finally, my assumptions that these somehow paved the way to the death of the person I loved the most. By now,…

  • קוּמִי אוֹרִי, כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ; וּכְבוֹד יְהוָה, עָלַיִךְ זָרָח. Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

    This week’s Haftarah brings me back to Jerusalem, of course. Jerusalem, as a city of prophets and a place for G-d’s vision to come alive, a city with blood, tears, hopes and joy all intertwined with each other in one giant ball of cosmic energy too tight and ready to burst out. It always seems…

  • Wine! Glorious (kosher) Wine!

    Not sure if I said it already, but my younger daughter is studying to become a sommelier. Apparently, there are only 249 masters of this trade in the whole world! In America, there are only 25 women. One can study for years and years and still fail the Master’s exam. So, there is a long…

  • Ottolenghi Lemon Blueberry Teacakes

    Sometimes fortune smiles at you. I mean my culinary fortune. My daughter went to an event with chef Ottolenghi and got his “Sweet” book. Apparently, the chef takes his publishing endeavors seriously. A little while after, she got another book and a letter stating that the first version had some errors in print (the list…

  • The Russian Picnic Tradition

    Apparently, Soviet cuisine is very fashionable now. Otherwise, why would there be such a great number of articles, books and posts about it. I need to write about Kachka – the book that I enjoy reading and the experience of my daughter, the Portland lover. I have been following the Russian food blogger, Peter, who reinvents the…

  • Food! Glorious (Israeli) Food!

    Just because on a day of horrible news from Israel I saw this article about food, I couldn’t leave it be. Here it is for you, my readers. Whether you are in Israel now or plan to go, read this, you’ll love it. Personally, I can totally vouch for Hachpuria, where I’ve finally eaten this…