Having missed two full weeks due to an enormous amount of new work that poured on me because some people cannot resist trying to do anything they can to disrupt the life of the Jews, I am back discussing the holy texts. This book, Leviticus – וַיִּקְרָא is, possibly, the one that serves as the reason…
Category: Jewish Stories
Another Easy Vegetarian Dish for Shabbat
It’s Friday again, and spring is trying hard to push its way through the winter that is not ready to step back. Yet, I think, we have seen just a little more vegetables that actually have taste in the stores. Here, in New York, it’s not a given. When I was in school, living in…
What Are We Really Cleaning for Pesach?
Below, I am posting some inspiring words of my friend, ILana TzipOra, who is too shy to post herself. I am hoping to encourage her to write more and share her words with the world. We never know how our words that seem mundane to us, can inspire other people. The more words of Torah we…
Jewish Places of the (Not-So-Distant) Past
כח אַל-תַּסֵּג, גְּבוּל עוֹלָם– אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ. 28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. Proverbs – מִשְׁלֵי I love to go to museums. Art, history, architecture, objets d’art, furniture, you name it. Certainly, I look at many things through the prism of the relations to Jews and Judaism. What’s better than to…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Tetzaveh
With everything that’s going on, mostly, in my professional life which is closely related to the Jewish world in this country, no time for writing at all. So, here I am posting a few verses from this parshah that make me think. I would be very happy to hear your thoughts on these lines. ב וְעָשִׂיתָ בִגְדֵי-קֹדֶשׁ, לְאַהֲרֹן…
Purim Treats
When I bake, I mostly, make one-big-piece desserts. Purim is the exception. Somehow, I can’t imagine the holiday without the little hat-like triangle hamentashen, the tastiest cookies with the variety of fillings. Mine are quite a bit of work, but the effort is certainly well worth it. You can use any filling, even a store bought container…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses –Trumah
Once in the desert and having received the 10 Commandments, the Jews are told to start building a “dwelling place” for Divine Presence. To start the process everyone (every man to be precise) is asked to bring an offering, but only if they wish. ב דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִקְחוּ-לִי תְּרוּמָה: מֵאֵת כָּל-אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ, תִּקְחוּ אֶת-תְּרוּמָתִי….
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses –Mishpatim
After the Bnei Yisrael are finally out of Egypt, they find out that life is not going to be easy. There are laws to follow, and rules to live by. א וְאֵלֶּה, הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים, אֲשֶׁר תָּשִׂים, לִפְנֵיהֶם. 1 Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them Did you think this is it? You left…
Easy, Healthy, Make-Ahead Cabbage Roulette
This Sunday should be a happy day. I am hosting my family for an early brunch. My niece is turning another page on the yearly calendar, and my younger daughter will be in town for a very short stay. I am excited! Since my dad’s passing, I am not able to invite guests, but the family…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Bo
“Go!”, He said. “Don’t ask for reasons, do as I say” Your people will leave this cursed place And you will be the leader. Now and forever. כב וַיֵּט מֹשֶׁה אֶת-יָדוֹ, עַל-הַשָּׁמָיִם; וַיְהִי חֹשֶׁךְ-אֲפֵלָה בְּכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים. 22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the…
Casale Monferrato Synagogue
This is just a quick post that I simply had to make. I stumbled upon amazing pictures of a historic synagogue in Italy, built in 1599 and situated between Milan and Turin. The website has the following text accompanying the amazing photographs of the shul: “Casale Monferrato congregation began renting its current building on September 17,…
Noshing Across the Nation 