Shabbat (the Sabbath) is the central observance or holy day of Judaism. Just about everything gives way before Shabbat – including Yom Kippur. Because it is the day that God gave us for rest and enjoyment, it should be a day of joy. It’s a great time to put something absolutely delicious on the table…
Read More »Holidays
Make it a Happy Holiday Even if You’re Worried it Won’t Be
You may have heard me tell this story because it had a deep impact on me – years ago in a workshop a non-Jewish wife told me that she waited all year for Christmas. She described herself as “a pressure cooker waiting to let off steam.” She recounted her love of the rituals of…
Read More »Challah-Baloo!
Now I ask you, is there anything better than hot homemade bread? I’ll answer, No! Come make challah, the most delicious bread ever! We’ll mix, knead and braid our own challah dough. Learn how to braid with 3 or 5 strands as well as making round loaves. You’ll take home your own loaf of warm…
Read More »Can We Color Eggs?
(From Mixed and Matched column March 2015) I’ve received many questions this month about painting eggs. Spring brings Passover and Easter, sometimes right on top of each other. While Jews are focusing on slavery, emancipation and unleavened bread, Easter seems to be focusing on bunnies, candy baskets and egg hunts. The real meaning of the…
Read More »Jewish Resolutions for the Secular New Year
A lot of folks will be making resolutions over the next few days. Why not make a Jewish resolution for the year 2015? Here are some ideas. 1. Increase your Jewish knowledge. The best way to feel confident is to know what you’re doing. Don’t suffer with a feeling of ignorance, learn. Take a class,…
Read More »Hanukkah Accessories
A big part of the fun of holidays — like Christmas — is the decorations, the spiffy seasonal accessories. Hanukkah can come up pretty short in this regard and that’s natural since this minor Jewish holiday has nowhere near the glamour of Christmas. But there are still things you can do to decorate and accessorize…
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