While reading through a cooking website I came upon a reference to Ugat Biskvitim; it was described as an Israeli refrigerator cake often made for Shavuot. I asked an Israeli friend if she had a recipe. Well! She brought me an entire cake! Here’s the recipe so you too can indulge in this VERY DAIRY…
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Let’s all get together for a joyful Shavuot celebration that we’ll share with PJ Library! This event is perfect for everyone from babies to bubbes! Of course there will be food – dairy and spring harvest foods; FUN crafting for kids and adults; a playdough activity for little ones. Be there to unroll a real…
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One of the unique differences between Western/American thought and Jewish thought is that Jews believe you can hold opposing ideas simultaneously. Here’s an example from a local rabbi’s recent email to her congregation. Rabbi Ilana of Beth Jacob Congregation in Redwood City expressed her gratitude and reflected on “where do we find God?” I am moved by…
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I just received permission to share Rabbi Chayva Lehrman of Am Tikvah in San Francisco’s message to her congregation. It is about Shavuot, but a question we can ponder throughout life. “Why was the Torah given in the desert?” asks the midrash. One might think that the Torah, the wellspring of Jewish tradition, should have…
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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…
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We are living with a cascade of disasters. Mass murders, war, climate chaos. I am so sorry and send my condolences to all of you, my fellow travelers. If you are moved to pray, here is a Kaddish that may speak to you. Mourner’s Kaddish after a Mass Murder from the Ritual Well. But I’m going…
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