Jewish Treats

Fresh Fruit

Enjoy the delights of the spring (watermelon, strawberries) with a proper blessing, ha’adama.

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Jewish Treats

Shabbat Delight

If enjoying a cup of tea, remember that the blessing over a cup of tea is Sheh’ha’kohl .

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Jewish Treats

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

If you’ll be eating a full meal, you can say the Ha'motzee blessing for bread at the beginning of the meal. If you’re just having turkey, say the She'ha'kohl blessing.

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Va'etchanan,Weekly Message

Va’etchanan 5776-2016

“Blessing G-d for the Good and the Bad" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Va’etchanan, includes the שְׁמַע--“Shemah,” the central Hebrew prayer in which Jews,…

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Weekly Message,Kee Tavo

Kee Tavo 5777-2017

“The Choice Parts to G-d” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Kee Tavo is best known for the second תּוֹכֵחָה , Tochacha, G-d’s second reproof of the People of Israel. The first is…

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Weekly Message,Balak

Balak 5768-2008

"The 'Mazal Tov' Conundrum" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Balak, Balaam, the prophet to the nations, offers a series of four prophecies. The first three…

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Jewish Treats

Jews and Bubble Gum

The first Friday in February is celebrated as “Bubble Gum Day.” Ruth Spiro, an author of children’s books who chews gum as an avocation, proposed the day in 2006 to enable children to…

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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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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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Jewish Treats

National Hermit Day

Judaism is not known for encouraging asceticism. While the Torah commands the Jewish people to “afflict” themselves on Yom Kippur by fasting and refraining from certain pleasurable…

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