For Seafood Lovers
If a fish dish is something that tantalizes your taste-buds, you might wonder how creatures of the deep blue sea fit in to Kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws. First and foremost, not all…
Fast of Esther
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day; I and my maidens will also fast in like manner; and…
A Bit of Melodrama
If you are looking for melodrama, if you like soap operas and emotional turmoil, then one really need not look much further than the Book of Genesis. Adam finds his “soulmate” Eve, Cain…
The Fast of Esther
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day; I and my maidens will also fast in like manner;…
The Tribe of Ephraim
As descendants of the original 12 sons of Israel, the lives and personalities of the descendants of Jacob significantly impacted on the history and behavior of the future tribe members…
The Fast of Esther
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day; I and my maidens will also fast in like manner; and so…
It’s Not Really Instant
Ten years ago, the favorite catch phrase of media pundits was the expression "disposable society." Critics of Western society complained, and still do complain, of there being a…
Judah, Son of Jacob
When Judah, the fourth son of Leah and Jacob, was born, Leah said, “This time let me gratefully praise God” (based on the Hebrew infinitive, l’hodot, “to praise”). Judah first…
How To Be Holy
God instructs Moses to tell the Jewish people: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). How does one make oneself holy? The remaining 35 verses of…
The Perfect Species
At this time of the year, Jews around the globe head out in search of the perfect Lulav and Etrog (Lulav refers to the grouping of lulav, hadassim and aravot, which, together with the…