Emergency Relief
In honor of the final day of Jewish American Heritage Month, today’s Jewish Treat looks at the evolution of Jewish emergency relief. On May 31, 1889, after two days of ferocious…
Conquering the Desert
One of the great miracles of the State of Israel has been its ability to transform desert into blooming arable land. In 1867 Mark Twain described the land in one of his memoirs: “The…
The Three Mitzvot of Sarah
Jokes about dominant Jewish mothers are abundant and frequent. Perhaps this is because, historically, Jewish mothers have been responsible for building the foundation for passionate…
Nimrod
The great military villains have usually been brilliant, determined and, it is often suggested, megalomanic. In which case they are very much the spiritual descendants of Nimrod. Nimrod,…
Challah Recipe
From NJOP's Gourmet Shabbat:Miriam Weinrib: CHALLAH (yields 5 medium challahs)5 pounds flour1 cup oil3 tbsp. salt5 eggs4 ounces fresh yeast,4 cups warm water1½ cups sugar Directions1) Put…
The Morning Blessings-Blessing #10: The Ground Beneath
Every morning, a set of 15 blessings is recited to express our thanks to God for all the things that we, as healthy human beings, are capable of doing. Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai…
Kindness To Animals
Animals are one of the most important “educational tools” God provided to humanity in order to teach them to be “givers.” While animals can’t communicate with the same ability as humans,…
The Other Hand Washing
It’s been a lovely meal, from the fresh-baked French bread to the sinful chocolate mousse -- every bite. All that is left to do is to recite Grace After Meals (Birkat Hamazon) thanking…
Are Kosher Foods Cleaner Or Healthier
Kosher food has enjoyed a reputation for being “clean” and “healthy.” Is this true? Certain standards of kosher food processing might suggest it. Consider the following: Washing - In…
Torah, To What Can I Compare Thee?
Various biblical verses and rabbinic texts compare the Torah to different natural resources to teach us about the greatness of the Torah in terms that can be readily understood. After…