Terrific Trees
In honor of the New Year of trees (Tu b'Shevat), Jewish Treats presents some thoughts on trees and nature as found in the Bible. 1) In the second chapter of Genesis, humankind is…
Hail to the Chief
“A blessing for the czar? Of course. May God bless and keep the czar... far away from us.” So jokes the rabbi of Anatevka during the opening number of Fiddler on the Roof. This was a real…
Dream A Little Dream
What is a dream? The vast majority of dreams are simply the brain’s way of understanding all the different thoughts and activities of the day. Other dreams, however, are more……
What Goes Bump In The Night
Many are familiar with the fact that angels play a significant role in Judaism, like the angels who tell Abraham that his 90 year old wife was going to give birth to a boy (Genesis 18).…
No Stumbling Blocks, Please
The prohibition “Do not put a stumbling block before the blind” (Leviticus 19:14) seems like an odd commandment. After all, who but a truly mischievous, mean-spirited prankster would put…
We’re Not Taking Care of Business
On Shabbat, the Jewish people are commanded: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is Shabbat for the Lord your God; you shall not do any work” (Exodus…
Ethics of the Fathers
Ethics – it’s a big word in our day and age. Between political corruption and financial misdeeds, it is easy to wonder what ever happened to even the most basic ethical standards.…
Happy National Hugging Day
On January 21, 1986, Kevin Zaborney of Clio, Michigan, created “National Hugging Day”. Zaborney felt that “American society is embarrassed to show feelings in public” and felt that his…
Hug Them
A hug conveys a special sense of esteem, fraternity and love. Hug your cherished family members. While a hug is an appropriate way to express a sentiment of love to a family member, the…
No Stumbling Blocks, Please
In honor of Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month, Jewish Treats explores the Torah prohibition “Do not put a stumbling block before the blind” (Leviticus 19:14). On the…