On the Canadian Prairie

Thirty-three years old at the time of his immigration, Grodno-born Rabbi Israel Isaac Kahanovitch (1872-1945), was called to Winnipeg, Manitoba, after spending a year Pennsylvania. He had…

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Immersing the Vessels

When shopping for common kitchen items, one typically does not ask the sales clerk, “Who manufactured them?” But, this information determines whether or not one must fulfill the mitzvah…

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Barbie’s Jewish Mother

In honor of the arrival of the long awaited Barbie movie this Friday, today's Jewish Treats offers a short profile on Barbie's Jewish creator Ruth Handler. One might easily wonder what…

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Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue

The directive to create a judicial system is set out in this week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, in Deuteronomy 16:18-20. God commands the Israelites to appoint judges and law enforcement…

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Burying The Dead

An unusually large body of Jewish law is concerned with interpersonal relationships, teaching how to properly respect each person, since all of humankind is created b’tzelem Eh-lokim, in…

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American Archivist

Selma Stern-Taeubler (1890-1981) was a natural achiever. Not only was this doctor’s daughter the first woman to be accepted to Baden-Baden’s Gymnasium in Germany, she even graduated from…

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Kee Teitzei 5783-2023

“The Torah’s ‘Secret’ for Longevity” (updated and revised from Kee Teitzei 5764-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As we have previously noted, this week’s parasha, parashat Kee Teitzei,…

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Kee Tavo 5783-2023

"The Centrality of Joy in Jewish Observance" (updated and revised from Kee Tavo 5764-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Kee Tavo is one of the two parashiot in the Torah that…

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Selichot

In addition to the unique prayer services of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the High Holidays are known for one other service: selichot. A collection of religious poems and verses, selichot…

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