Noshing Across the Nation

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

Category: World around us

  • Bits of Words Before the Hagim

    We are almost at the end of Elul. And this means that the talk around us is about teshuva. Everyone tries to be more critical of themselves, more open to prayer, tzedakah, and understanding of the other. Everyone is thinking of doing more mitzvot. And, looks like everyone is preaching. Zniut! Wow, if we could only save the world by…

  • The Ghetto and Beyond

    I decided to spend my Sunday and Monday at the Center for Jewish History attending a conference about the Jewish ghetto. The distinguished panel of presenters came from the top universities in the United States, Israel and Italy. A new Medici archives project was presenting materials ranging from general community related papers to personal stories of the individual…

  • Reading Shivhei ha-Besht

    My love of learning anything concerning Jewish history brought me this time to a class on early Hasidism. //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=noshingacro07-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1568211473&asins=1568211473&linkId=9c0e9d167ee0056d2e148390ddfec4d2&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>The book I bought for the class was first published in Hebrew in 1814 or 1815 from an earlier manuscript written by Rabbi Dov Ber ben Shmuel. The stories are remarkable on several levels, but…

  • Verses Outloud

    What makes a poet? His success? His literary style? The fact that his poems make it into the world of music? The voice of a singer? All of the above? How is it that some poems, whether read or sang are unforgettable, while the others, albeit good ones, stay with you just for a little…

  • Ice Cream, Anyone? Just sharing a great ice cream story.

    This post is here just to share a great story about Jewish ice cream making in America. Guilty, I have to admit that I always thought Haagen-Dazs was German in origin. This was the only kosher ice cream I learned about in Moscow in my early days of Jewish observance. Of course, I love ice cream!…

  • Jury Duty Day

    I have served as a juror once. Quite a while ago. It was a terrible mafia case, and I had to spend a whole week sequestered with other people discussing the murder. I don’t remember the particulars of the organization itself, but now, I have decided to document my experience whatever it will turn out to…

  • Dreaming of Jerusalem in a Jewish History Class

    Not sure if I ever mentioned this, but I am in love with Jewish learning. I am trying my best to match up to my new countrymen that had all the studying opportunities I was never able to experience in the Soviet Union. To set the record straight, the education system, generally, was much better there.…

  • Independence Day Trip

    I am not usually the one to talk about American history. This 4th of July, however, I wanted to go for a short restful trip, and accidentally, saw that Valley Forge Park is less than two hours away from New York City. So, to the Valley Forge, we went with the dog and all. Thankfully,…

  • Blood and Tears

    There is really nothing to say today – only cry. Cry out of pain, out of anger, and out of helplessness of normalcy in relation to terror and murder. Today, when the news broke about the brutal murder of an innocent 13-year-old Israeli girl sleeping soundly in her bed by a 17-year-old Arab attacker, all I…

  • Let’s Help my Shul!

    Dear reader, This is not a food post. I am trying to spread the word about the fundraising campaign for my synagogue. Please go to this link, see the video for yourself, and find it in your heart to donate a few dollars. This is really a unique congregation. Be a part of this mitzvah!…