The Main Thing is to Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
If you had walked into Washington D.C.’s L’Enfant Plaza on the morning of January 12, 2007, you would have been in for quite a treat – and you probably never would have even realized it. That morning,...
View ArticleOn Shofar Blowing and Racism
מִן-הַמֵּצַר, קָרָאתִי יָּהּ; עָנָנִי בַמֶּרְחָב יָהּ Out of the tight place I called to the LORD; God answered me with great enlargement. -Psalm 118:5 Rosh Hashanah is more than a New Year. It...
View ArticleNow That I Have A Kid, How Do I Mark New Years… And Small Moments Each Day?
“Can you believe it’s been a year!?” Ever since my son was about 10 months old, many people have commented on that milestone. They ask me if I could believe it had already been a year, asking me if it...
View ArticleInspiration
When we open our eyes in the morning, when we are confronted with challenges, when we seek to create beauty, when we seek understanding and insight, encouragement and wholeness and some reasonable...
View ArticleRosh Hashanah: Get Woke
During the High Holiday period, we expect a great deal from ourselves. Putting aside the business of material holiday preparation (meals! more meals! house cleaning for guests!) we also understand this...
View ArticleRosh Hashanah from the Other Side
How would I have experienced Rosh Hashanah if I were sitting on the men’s side of the mechitza? Would it have mattered? Would I have paid more attention? Would I have paid attention to who was...
View ArticleOne Small Sound for Women, One Large Blast for Womankind.
On the first day of Rosh Hashana I was invited to call the kolot (sounds) for the shofar. I must admit, I didn’t have a clue what I was getting into. Our shul differs from many others – rather than...
View ArticleReflections on Liturgy of the High Holy Days
We spent the whole morning of prayers during the High Holidays on our pleas for forgiveness from God, and our praises to Him for all that He does. The prayer that really spoke to me this year was at...
View ArticleShabbat Chicken with Dried Fruit Recipe
I have served this chicken on Rosh Hashanah for years, and it’s a go-to for a quick and easy Shabbat recipe. The chicken gets caramelized from the glossy and delicious sauce. It’s best when marinated...
View ArticleEasy Ma’amoul: a Middle Eastern Jewish Dessert
Ma’amoul is a traditional small pastry from the Levant (the area between Syria in the north and Egypt in the south including Lebanon, Israel and Palestine). Muslims, Christians and Jews lived in this...
View ArticleHow to Make Cold Borscht
I can’t eat borscht that comes from a jar that’s been sitting on a supermarket shelf for who knows how long. So sue me. Tell me I’m a snob. I just can’t. It’s the wrong color, it’s too thin and has...
View ArticleKichels Recipe: Jewish Bow Tie Cookies
My mother was a first-class baker, and there were always homemade goodies for dessert at our house. So when I went away to college and needed a nosh to remind me of home, I went to a nearby bakery for...
View ArticleA New Year, A New Queer
September is a remarkably dependable month. I can always count on school starting back up again, warm summer nights beginning to deliver a hint of chill, a new Chabad calendar arriving in the mail (I’m...
View ArticleMindful or MindFULL These Holidays?
The holidays are a busy time — a time where we are supposed to spend the entire Hebrew month of Elul leading up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur thinking about ourselves, reflecting, and beginning our...
View ArticleGluten-Free Apple Cake Recipe
In recent years, it seems that more and more of my family members and friends have developed food allergies and food intolerances. This can make it difficult to determine what to serve at holidays and...
View ArticleSweet and Spicy Skillet Cornbread for Rosh Hashanah
During the month of Elul, many Jews take the time to reflect on their past year and prepare themselves spiritually for the next. This year, I have found myself falling short when it comes to these...
View ArticleBaklava with Honey and Cardamom Recipe
Of all the sweet and honey-kissed desserts, baklava is hands-down my favorite. My first memory of it comes from my time as a student in Madison, WI, where I was a frequent visitor to Mediterranean...
View ArticleNow That I Have A Kid, How Do I Mark New Years… And Small Moments Each Day?
“Can you believe it’s been a year!?” Ever since my son was about 10 months old, many people have commented on that milestone. They ask me if I could believe it had already been a year, asking me if it...
View ArticleCrockpot Short Ribs with Pomegranate Molasses Recipe
Using a slow cooker is a great way to save some time for holiday prep. This short ribs recipe is so rich and delicious, no one will know you weren’t slaving over a hot stove for hours. A few notes: The...
View ArticleJust Do It: A High Holy Day Call to Action
As High Holy Day tides approach and soon over-wash with their poignant waters of joy, awe, solemnity and introspection, it’s tempting to imagine that this season is only for emotional and spiritual...
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