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…
Tag: blessing
Happy Birthday to a Special Person!
Today is the birthday of one woman whom I am blessed to call family, even though she is not a blood relation. I’ve met my (then future) sister-in-law almost 35 years ago, and since then through good times and bad, every day I realize more and more what an exceptional human being she is. She…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses Ha’azinu / האזינו
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 can say anything better. The only thing…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Ki Tavo /כִּי-תָבוֹא
We are commanded to bring the first fruits of our labor “unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there” and speak to our Gd: י וְעַתָּה, הִנֵּה הֵבֵאתִי אֶת-רֵאשִׁית פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה, אֲשֶׁר-נָתַתָּה לִּי, יְהוָה; וְהִנַּחְתּוֹ, לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתָ, לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ. 10 And now, behold, I have…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses Re’eh / ראה
This is a Parshah of choices. To go right or left. To live or to die. To walk straight or in curved lines. כו רְאֵה, אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם–הַיּוֹם: בְּרָכָה, וּקְלָלָה. 26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: כז אֶת-הַבְּרָכָה–אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְעוּ, אֶל-מִצְוֹת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם, הַיּוֹם. 27 the blessing, if ye…
Gil Marks’ Yahrzeit
Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of Gil Marks‘s death. Even though I met Gil only a couple of times, I feel that I have to write about this amazing man. I was sad to see that his webpage was taken down. The man was not only the real walking food encyclopedia, but a Rabbi writing…
Learning from my Daughters
When does a parent rejoice? When their children surpass their own abilities. As a mother, I know that there is nothing greater than understanding that some things you taught your children have been internalized and improved upon by them. I have two beautiful grown-up, and very much self-made daughters. Both of them saw me cooking and…
We are in it Together. Part IV. Never Want to Leave.
The beauty of this land The magic in its air When will I call you mine? It is intolerable to think that I have to leave so soon. I want to see and do so much more. I miss my mother and daughters immensely, but I’d rather have them here with me than me there….
Pre Yom Kippur Thoughts
We are in the middle of Yamin Noraim. It is especially hard to examine your own faults when you learn of young lives being taken away. Lives of someone you didn’t know personally, but knew their parents. A terrible crash happened just a few days prior to Rosh ha Shana. I wish I had words to…
Rosh ha Shana Blessings
We are on the eve of a New Jewish Year, 5776. It is always hard to reflect upon your own mistakes and shortcomings. I would just like to wish everyone the possibility to look upon yourself with criticism and upon others with favor. May we all have enough reasons to thank H-Shem for every day…
Noshing Across the Nation 