Jewish Treats

Chag Sameach

NJOP and Jewish Treats wishes our friends and followers a hearty Chag Sameach (Happy holiday!), as we celebrate the joyous holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

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Sukkot,Weekly Message

Sukkot 5782-2021

“A Sukkah Memory” (updated and revised from Sukkot 5763-2002) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Growing up as one of the few religious Yeshiva students in the East Bronx in the early 1950s was…

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Yom Kippur,Weekly Message

Yom Kippur 5782-2021

“Smashing the Golden Calves” (updated and revised from Yom Kippur 5764-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Virtually all the holidays and festivals of the Jewish calendar revolve around…

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Jewish Treats

Tashlich

The Rosh Hashana tashlich ritual is a tradition that is dear throughout the many diverse Jewish communities. Tashlich literally translates as “You will throw.” But what, exactly, is it?…

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Weekly Message,Vayeilech

Vayeilech 5782-2021

“Appreciating our own Inner Worth” (updated and revised from Vayeilech 5761-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Vayeilech, is almost always read together…

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Jewish Treats

Symbolic Foods

Since Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment, it is customary to eat simanim*, foods with symbolic meanings that invoke God’s blessing. We also recite a short prayer before eating them.…

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Nitzavim,Weekly Message

Nitzavim 5781-2021

“Striving to Reach Heaven During the Days of Awe” (updated and revised from Nitzavim 5761-2001) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This past Saturday night, August 28th, or early Sunday…

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Jewish Treats

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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Jewish Treats

Kiss and Make Up

Today, August 25th, is the anonymously anointed “National Kiss and Make Up Day.” These modern “holidays” have little historic meaning, but Jewish Treats would be remiss in not noting that…

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Jewish Treats

No Holiday as Joyous

Tu b’Av (The Fifteenth of Av) which is tomorrow, is no longer the well-known holiday on the Jewish calendar that it was in ancient times. In fact, the Talmud states that: “There were no…

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