This past weekend I got a chance to go to Mexico City for Limmud volunteer training where limmudniks from all over the Americas and our British partners have gathered trying to help each other be more efficient and productive while preparing and running our respective Limmuds. Limmud as an organization had started in England over…
Category: Jewish Stories
Emor – Three Years
Today, 11 of Iyar, is my dad’s third Yortzait. Because in my shul, there is no way a woman can speak in front of the congregation, I asked a male friend of mine to say this on my behalf during our Seudah Shlishit: In Memory of Shimon ben Nachum This Parshat has a few lines…
Pesach Food at my House
One can write shelves of books about preparing for Pesach and cooking and organizing delicious meals, especially if one hosts many times during just one week of the “holiday of our freedom.” A lady in my office just proposed that Jews are not smart because of hundreds of years learning Talmud, but because of even more…
Will This Pesach Be Different Than Any Other Pesach?
So many things happening, so many thoughts in my head, so many feelings in my heart, and so little ability in me to express it all. Pesach is coming, and the Israeli elections seem to be fitting into a timing that is supposed to be of reflection, self-cleansing and preparing for a better, free future….
Hebrew in My Heart
Lately, I have been listening to a lot of Israeli songs. I always loved Hebrew, and now I feel that I am feeling it closer to my heart than ever. I have got acquainted with some really beautiful songs both music and lyrics-wise. They are not new, they might remind you of your youth or…
Random Spring Pre-Purim Thoughts
Spring is, inevitably, coming. And, with it come hopes, dreams of the better future, associations with pink / rosy glasses. Time and again, my mind races back and forth bringing pleasant thoughts and emotions and going back to the darkness that is so ingrained in my whole being. Personal ups and downs are mixed today…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses –Trumah
Originally posted on Noshing Across the Nation:
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: …
Old and New
It’s been a while since I have written here about food. Life, surprisingly the pleasant part of it, gets in the way and we are almost in the middle of winter with the cold penetrating my body and wind hauling outside my window. This is not the weather I like. I feel frozen inside and…
From the End to the Beginning
It may be strangely fitting that the first Parshah of the Book of Exodus (Shmot) is coming on the last Shabbat of the calendar year this time. Thinking about it, I was struck by this phrase: כד וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים, אֶת-נַאֲקָתָם; וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת-בְּרִיתוֹ, אֶת-אַבְרָהָם אֶת-יִצְחָק וְאֶת-יַעֲקֹב. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses –Chayei Sarah
Originally posted on Noshing Across the Nation:
There are not too many women whose stories are told in detail in the Torah. Sarah is one of these unique women that merits this validation from the Rabbis:”Avraham was secondary to Sarah in prophecy” (Shemot Raba 1:1). This woman was outstandingly beautiful, wise, modest and strong-willed at…
יְשַׁעְיָהוּ – Haftarah
This chapter of יְשַׁעְיָהוּ – Isaiah looks like a song to me. A song of promise that we need right now so desperately. Does it always seem that times are as difficult as they can be, or they are, indeed, more challenging than before? I suppose that this is not a politically correct chapter mentioning women…
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.…
Noshing Across the Nation 