It’s almost February and we’re looking ahead to Tu B’shvat! Tu B’shvat – The Birthday of the Trees/Fruit You’ll immediately see from the list of coming events that Tu B’shvat (also Tu Bishvat) is on the horizon. It begins at sundown on February 12th. One of my sternest rules for myself is that I give you a…
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Dear Life, Slow down! The High Holidays followed quickly by Sukkot and Simchat Torah always make me a little crazed. MASSIVE CELEBRATIONS! My synagogue’s sukkah went up the day after Yom Kippur and the next day mine went up. One of the nice things about Sukkot is that it lasts 8 days (here in the USA)….
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Here comes 5785! High Holidays Here in America we are tuned into the Gregorian calendar and from that perspective, the High Holidays are VERY late this year. Rosh Hashanah won’t come until October. The last time that happened was 1967! (On the Jewish calendar we are about to begin 5785.) There are a number of…
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One of the most attractive elements of Judaism – for both Jews and non-Jews – is the tradition of asking questions. Questions are often followed by an argument that is “for the sake of heaven,” meaning to deepen our understanding, not to defeat the other guy. Whether you are learning about Judaism or teaching someone…
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(Photo credit Shannon Sarna from the My Jewish Learning website) I’m not big on chocolate, but… I’m well aware that most people’s favorite flavor is CHOCOLATE. With that in mind I want to send you a Double Chocolate Chip Challah recipe. Could be good for Shabbat. Jews Indigenous to the Middle East How much do you…
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Rabbi Tarfon compared the Jewish people to a pile of walnuts. “If one walnut is removed, each and every nut in the pile is shaken and disturbed. So too, when a single Jew is in distress, every other Jew is shaken.” (Midrash – Shir HaShirim Raba 6:11) I’ve been receiving emails since October 7 from…
Read More »Our weekly email goes out to hundreds of interfaith couples & families in the Bay Area. Topics cover the many questions and mysteries that interfaith couples want answered.